Plea Seeking 'Strict' Enforcement Of Orissa Prohibition Act: Orissa High Court Seeks State Govt. Response

The Orissa High Court last week sought response of the State Government on plea enforcement of the Orissa Prohibition Act, 1956 which prohibits, inter alia, sale and consumption of intoxicating liquors and drugs in the State. The Bench of Chief Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice S. K. Panigrahi has directed the state government to file its affidavit by September 8. The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 15. It may be noted that the State Legislature had passed the law with an intention to introduce and extend the prohibition on the manufacture, sale, and consumption of intoxicating liquors and drugs in Odisha. The President of India had given his assent to the Act in the year 1957. The petitioner prayed in the plea that the State must strictly enforce the Orissa Prohibition Act, 1956 which according to the Petitioner is still in force. The Petitioner stated that the petition was not only about manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, but all forms of liquor, which according to him, stand prohibited under the Orissa Prohibition Act. In related news, the Gujarat High Court has recently concluded hearing a batch of petitions challenging the prohibition on manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor in the state vide the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949. The petition challenged the said law on grounds of 'manifest arbitrariness' and violation of 'right to privacy'. Gujarat Liquor Prohibition Challenged In High Court Invoking 'Right To Privacy' Also read: 'State Can't Control Right To Consume Alcohol Within One's Home' : Petitioner Argues In Gujarat High Court Against Liquor Prohibition Does Right To Privacy Include Right To Drink Alcohol? Gujarat High Court Reserves Judgment On Maintainability Of Pleas Challenging Liquor Prohibition Underlining that the Court cannot lose sight of what is happening in the society due to drinking habits of the people, the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) recently made an ardent appeal to the government to implement state-wide liquor prohibition to wipe out the tears of women and children. "Though it is a difficult task, still every endeavor has to be made to discourage the people to drink and appeal to the Government to stop selling liquor", observed the Bench of Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice B. Pugalendhi. Case title - Sri Arun Kumar Budhia vs Chief Secretary To Govt. Of Odisha Click Here To Download OrderRead Order

Plea Seeking 'Strict' Enforcement Of Orissa Prohibition Act: Orissa High Court Seeks State Govt. Response

Sparsh Upadhyay

Tags