PIL filed in HC seeks ban on liquor

Karwani Islami headed by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool on Wednesday submitted a Public Interest Litigation before state high court, seeking a ban on sale and consumption of liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued here to GNS, Karwani Islami said that in the PIL filed through its chairman Sheikh Ghulam Rasool Hami stated that government has failed to take necessary steps for prohibition of sale and consumption of liquor in the state.

“Day in and day out, many human beings lose their lives due to drunk driving, modesty of women folk is ravished and has become one of the reasons for social disorder in the society,” the petitioner has submitted.

He also states it has been enshrined in part-IV of Indian constitution under Article 47 that state shall endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purpose of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.

Article 38 of constitution of India imposes obligation on states to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of people and same cannot be achieved without good public health, he said.
“It is the bounden duty and obligation of the state to take necessary steps to curb the menace of liquor which has far-reaching ill effects to the health and wellbeing of the population of Jammu and Kashmir,” the petitioner said.

While obeying the duty casted upon the states under Article 47 of constitution of India, he said, the various states including state of Gujarat, Nagaland, Manipur, Union territory of Lakshadweep and Kerala have passed necessary laws for banning the sale and consumption of liquor.

“It has been held by the apex court while relying on international covenants and concluded that right to health is a fundamental right and forms part and parcel of Article 21 of Constitution of India, it has been time and again proved scientifically that consumption of liquor has devastating effects on health and mental wellbeing of an individual.

He said that that due to the inaction on part of the government, a liquor shop situated at Batwara here provides easy access to young generation and as a result they get addicted.

“This addiction has far-reaching consequence on health and wellbeing of youth of nation,” he said. (GNS)