BJP leader and Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has moved the Delhi High Court seeking to prohibit or regulate the production, distribution and consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs in the national capital.Stating that alcohol is hazardous to health and affects the Right to live in a clean, hygienic and safe environment protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, the plea seeks...
BJP leader and Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has moved the Delhi High Court seeking to prohibit or regulate the production, distribution and consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs in the national capital.
Stating that alcohol is hazardous to health and affects the Right to live in a clean, hygienic and safe environment protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, the plea seeks a direction to the government to publish 'Health Warning' on Liquor Bottles and Packages, alike the warning sign used on Cigarette packets.
It is further prayed to advertise 'Health and Environment Hazard' of intoxicating drinks through electronic, print and social media in order to secure citizen's right to know, right to information and right to health.
The plea alleges that rather than taking steps to prohibit/ control production, distribution and consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs, the State government has made Delhi as 'Liquor Capital of India'. In 280 wards in the city, there are a total of 250 liquor shops and under the New Liquor Policy, State government is planning to drastically increase this number.
"The Delhi government has been granting license to open liquor shops not only in residential areas and main markets but also near hospitals, schools and temples under garb of providing easy access to liquor shops," it is alleged.
Reliance is placed on Article 47 of the Constitution, to highlight that the State is obligated to prohibit consumption of liquor/drugs.
The matter was listed today before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna. It orally observed that given the medicinal usage of alcohol, it may not be appropriate to publish health warnings. Nevertheless, it adjourned the case to July 4, without issuing notice.
Case Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India