New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and other authorities on a plea seeking an immediate ban on the sale of liquor in tetra packs and sachets.
The plea comes weeks after the top court had declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging Uttar Pradesh’s policy allowing country liquor to be sold in tetra packs, advising the petitioner to first approach the state government.
Earlier, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, had disposed of the PIL filed by Meenakshi Shree Tiwari, granting liberty to make a representation before competent authorities in the state.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Ashok Pande argued that liquor sold in tetra packs was easily reaching educational institutions and adversely affecting the environment there. He also contended that such accessibility could be a contributing factor to rising crime.
The Uttar Pradesh government recently introduced a revised excise policy, which includes an e-lottery system for allotment of liquor and bhang shops. Under the policy, country liquor, earlier sold in glass bottles, is now mandated to be distributed in tetra packs to improve safety standards and prevent adulteration.
Opposing the move, the petitioner sought a complete prohibition on such packaging formats. The Supreme Court had earlier said the concerns should first be raised before appropriate authorities, who must consider and decide the matter in accordance with law. (Agencies)
