Sale of liquor on highways: SC notice to Centre, states, UTs

New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI) The Supreme Court today soughtresponses from the Centre, states and Union Territories on aplea seeking a direction to amend excise laws to ensure thatno liquor is sold alongside state and national highways due torising fatalities in road mishaps across the nation. A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice A MKhanwilkar issued notice on a PIL which alleged that statesand UTs were not acting despite comprehensive recommendationsof a panel headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan, former apexcourt judge, that there should be "ban on sale of alcohol onstate and national highways". The PIL filed by E V Balakrishnan, through lawyer MRambabu, has referred to the 2015 report of the Ministry ofRoad Transport and Highways and said that almost five lakhaccidents occurred last year in India, killing 1,46,000 peopleand leaving thrice the number injured. Besides states and UTs, the court issued notices tovarious central ministries including Finance, Road Transportand Highways and Home Affairs. The plea alleged that despite the recommendation of theCommittee to ban of sale of alcohol on State and NationalHighway", states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana weresticking to their prevailing excise policies under whichlicenses are being issued to liquor shops along the highways. "The present Writ Petition is …seeking the kindindulgence of this court for issuance of a Writ …to UOI, allIndian States and Union Territories to repeal/amend theirExcise Policies regarding issuing of licenses to liquor shopsalong the State and National Highways, with immediate effect,considering the rise in road accidents," it said. "The analysis of road accident data 2015 reveals thatabout 1,374 accidents and 400 deaths take place every day onIndian roads, resulting in 57 accidents and loss of 17 liveson an average every hour. "India being a signatory to the Brasilia Declaration, itis imperative that policy guidelines are framed to controlroad accidents. Also, the Excise Policies of Indian States andUnion Territories should be amended to conform to the spiritof Article 47 r/w Article 21 of the Constitution of India,"the plea said. (More) PTI SJK ABA RKSARC