No water to drink, liquor flows freely, says Madras high court judge

Chennai: Observing that even drinking water is scarce in most parts of our country but the other water (alcohol) flows aplenty in every nook and corner of the nation in which families are drowning, the Madras high court has asked the Central and State governments as to why they have not considered implementation of total prohibition to protect the people from the evils of liquor.
 

Suo motu impleading the Union government, TN government, Tasmac and DGP as respondents in the appeals, which sought enhancement of compensation awarded to the dependents of two who died in an accident due to drunken driving in the city in 2011, Justice N Kirubakaran posed 16 queries and directed the counsels for impleaded respondents to get their response by December 11.

 “There are more chances for the people to consume alcohol in view of availability of liquor very easily in liquor shops and bars throughout India, except Gujarat, and drive vehicles. When the governments themselves open up liquor shops and simultaneously have established bars to allow the people to consume liquor, such course paves way for drunken driving causing more accidents resulting in loss of lives, disablement of many human beings, damage to the properties etc., attracting various provisions of IPC and Motor Vehicles Act,”  Justice Kirubakaran observed.

It was the bounden duty of the governments to eradicate the evil of drinking by total prohibition which will be in the interest of the citizens, families and consequently, the society, the judge added.The judge said after all the father of our nation was against liquor and he said “Drugs and Drink are the two arms of the devil with which he strikes his helpless slaves into stupefaction and intoxication”.  

There were dangerous consequences of drinking including commission of many crimes. Families were shattered because of drinking. Health, wealth and peace of mind were lost due to alcohol, and mostly sufferers were women and children and they were affected physically, psychologically and economically.