Supreme Court Directs Punjab Govt To Continue Steps To Stop Illegal Transportation Of Spurious Liquor & Illegal 'Bhatthis'

A Bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar was inclined to do so after considering a counter affidavit filed by the State of Punjab describing the measures that it had been undertaking to curb the issue at hand.

On December 15, last year, the state government told the bench that they had already taken steps in the right direction because of court's indulgence. "We have implemented all the directions issued by this court, including issuing a circular holding local police accountable if illegal bhatthis(illegal liquor units) are found. We have conducted awareness campaigns, appointed informers who will be rewarded,' the bench was told during the December hearing.

“The State of Punjab is directed to continue steps to stop illegal transportation of spurious liquor and illegal bhatthis in the State”, the Court directed today while adding that the local police will continue to be responsible for ensuring it.

“Local police shall remain responsible…. The State directed to act accordingly.”

Where Is Manufacture Of Spurious Liquor Happening? Supreme Court

Regarding the multiple deaths of innocent persons after consuming spurious liquor, the Court was informed today that that seven First Information Reports were filed with regard to three incidents in three different districts. All the accused were arrested, charge-sheeted and the trial is going on, the Court was told.

During the hearing, the Court posed several questions on how, one, Rajiv Joshi, got his hand on spurious liquor in the first place. Reportedly, Joshi, who was arrested in 2020, had disclosed that he supplied the three drums of methanol, which were used to make the spurious methanol-based alcohol.

“How did he get the alcohol? Where was it manufactured? Have you enquired from where the liquor came?”, the Bench asked the State counsel.

The counsel replied that all of these details were mentioned in the chargesheet.

The Bench pointed out that it was the “poor” who are bearing the brunt of illegal liquor.

The counsel for the state agreed and added to this view.

“It is available at cheap rates and death happens”, he said while adding that the Court’s indulgence had “worked wonders”.

In December, the bench led by Justice Shah slammed the Punjab government over its inaction with respect to the large-scale manufacture and sale of illicit liquor and sought a detailed counter-affidavit outlining concrete steps that can be taken to tackle the problem head-on, such as awareness campaigns or deploying more personnel to the borders of the state. The bench had also recommended issuing a circular stating that the local police would be held responsible if illegal bhatthis were found.

In an earlier hearing as well, the state government was pulled up by the top court, which had remarked that cancelling of licenses and recovery of penalties or dues from employees of factories would not be sufficient. The bench was told by Advocate Prashant Bhushan that concerted efforts had to be made to apprehend the real kingpins of the illicit liquor industry.