Kallakurichi Hooch Deaths | Govt Cannot Take Issue Lightly, It's About People's Lives: Madras HC Calls For Detailed Action Taken Report

“This issue cannot be taken lightly by the government. This is about the life of persons. We want to know what action was taken by the government since the last one year, when a similar incident had taken place,” the court said.

The bench of Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice K Kumaresh Babu thus directed the State Government to submit a report detailing the steps taken to prevent such incidents and the action taken following the Kallakurichi tragedy.

The court was hearing a petition filed by I.S Inabudai, the legal wing Secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. On Friday, Advocate D Selvam, appearing for Inbadurai argued that the state machinery had failed in tackling the sale and consumption of spurious liquor. He added that the entire system of Tamil Nadu including the police, revenue authorities, etc had failed which was evident from the preset incident in Kallakurichi.

Selvam further argued that this was not the first instance when such a tragedy struck the state. He added that in 2023, in Madhuranthakam, a similar incident had occurred in which around 30 people died after consuming spurious liquor. He added that though representations were given following the Madhuranthakam incident, the government had not taken any action. Drawing attention to a notice sent by the NHRC to the state government, he also submitted that even the NHRC had observed that the state government had failed to control the issue.

Selvam further argued that the Kallakurichi MLA and the Leader of Opposition had also sent representations and even made a motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to discuss the issue of the sale of spurious liquor but the state had not considered the same or taken steps to tackle the issue. He even argued that the sale of spurious liquor was happening with the connivance of the authorities.

Selvam also pointed out that in the present case, Methanol, which was mixed in the alcohol, had been discovered from Pondicherry and since it brings an inter-state issue, it would be appropriate to transfer the investigation to the CID which could effectively carry out the investigation.

Refuting the allegations, Advocate General PS Raman argued that petitioners were making unnecessary comments in the court. He informed the court that the state had taken all possible steps to prevent such tragedies. He submitted that the Superintendent of Police had been suspended and the ADGP (Enforcement) had been shifted out of the post. He also added that the four persons had been arrested and all affected persons were being treated. The AG also appraised the court that the investigation had been transferred to the CB-CID and a one-man commission comprising of Justice (Retd) B Gokuldas had also been appointed by the Chief Minister to look into the issue and recommend further steps.

During the hearing, the court also informed the AG that it had come across media reports, even before the Kallakurichi incident, claiming that spurious liquor was easily made and sold in the area and some YouTube channels had even specifically named the persons who were engaged in the sale. The court added that these allegations were going around in the media, in newspapers and Youtube channels and the state could not simply sweep it under the carpet.

The court added that it was only concerned with the actions taken by the State, in the aftermath of the previous incident, to prevent the sale and consumption of the spurious liquor. The court thus asked the state to file a detailed report by 26^th June (Wednesday) and adjourned the case.

Case Title: IS Inbadurai v The Chief Secretary and Others

Case No: WP 16519 of 2024