Tamil Nadu, India: High Court Inquires About Prohibition Plans Of Government
The Madras High Court Bench here on Monday inquired by when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government would implement total prohibition in the Tamil Nadu. The state is the eleventh-largest in India by area and the sixth-most populous. Tamil Nadu was ranked sixth among states in India according to the Human Development Index in 2011, with the second-largest state economy after Maharashtra.
AIADMK had in its last Assembly election manifesto promised to implement prohibition in a phased manner.
The High Court posed the query along with 13 other questions related to alcohol harm in Tamil Nadu and expects answers by February 24.
Questions about alcohol outlets in state
The court questioned authorities about the number of State-run liquor shops that had been closed pursuant to a policy decision taken by it to implement prohibition gradually. The court also wanted to know when the next phase of closure of alcohol outlets would commence and how many would be closed down.
The Court ordered the Centre and the State government to get data on crimes connected with liquor consumption in the last 10 years and explain whether juveniles and students were getting addicted to liquor due to easy availability.
The Court also inquired why the Centre and the State Government had not taken steps to prevent easy availability of alcohol in Tamil Nadu.
