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  Bombay High Court dismisses PIL that sought for liquor permits to be scrapped

Bombay High Court dismisses PIL that sought for liquor permits to be scrapped

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Aug 9, 2016, 6:51 am IST
Updated : Aug 9, 2016, 6:51 am IST

The Bombay high court on Monday disposed of a PIL that sought to scrap the permit system for the consumption of Indian and foreign-made liquor in restaurant and bars in Maharashtra.

The Bombay high court on Monday disposed of a PIL that sought to scrap the permit system for the consumption of Indian and foreign-made liquor in restaurant and bars in Maharashtra.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A.A. Sayed was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former journalist and activist Ketan Tirodkar.

According to the petition, the Maharashtra government has a law under which any person who wants to drink or buy liquor in a bar or restaurant has to purchase a permit for the same from that restaurant. It also alleged that most of the people do not have permits but get drinks nonetheless on placing an order because records are fabricated. Thus, this law should be scrapped, the petition said.

It further alleged that hotels and restaurants, in connivance with the excise department, prepare permits in various names in advance and show that liquor has been served to these people, though the actual consumers may be different.

On Monday, while hearing the petition, the HC said that the petitioner needs to approach the appropriate authority of the state government and would have to make a representation before them.

The court also said that this matter involved a policy decision for the state to make on whether it would continue the permit system for the consumption of liquor or not, and the court would not issue any direction to the government in this regard.