HC slams TN govt for selling liquor

The Madras High Court Thursday expressed sadness over the Tamil Nadu government selling Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the state despite the fact that liquor spoiled many families and said it hoped prohibition would be clamped again.

Noting that Mahatma Gandhi fought for prohibition throughout his life, the court said there was no meaning in calling him the "Father of the Nation" without following his core principle of prohibition.

"It is sad that government is doing the unwarranted business only for the sake of raising revenue instead of going for alternative revenue like additional tax or new tax," Justice N Kirubakaran said.

Hearing a motor accident claim appeal, he said the liquor business of the government would endanger the people's lives and quoted statistics that 70 per cent of road accidents were caused by drunken driving.

Even after having such data, no effective step had been taken by the Centre or the state government, he said.

Mahatma Gandhi fought for prohibition ..