PIL FILED FOR MORE STRINGENT, EFFECTIVE PROHIBITION LAW

Following the recent hooch tragedy in Ahmedabad, which claimed over 130 lives, a women’s rights group has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Gujarat High Court with a plea to make the prohibition law more stringent and effective. The petitioner has also urged the HC to give directions to the respondents in the matter with the implementation of the Prohibition Act. Recently, a division bench of the HC has taken suo motto cognisance of certain complaints received by it in connection with the Prohibition law and the recent hooch tragedy. The PIL has been filed by the founder secretary of Ahmedabad Women’s Action Group (AWAG) – a voluntary organisation, headed by Ila Pathak. In the petition, she has raised a number of issues with reference to the Prohibition law, security of women and the police-bootleggers nexus. The petition demands to direct the respondents to initiate actions against its officials responsible for the hooch tragedy, to place a comprehensive plan for the effective implementation of the Prohibition policy in Gujarat, to form a monitoring cell to coordinate with concerned departments to supervise the implementation of the Act, and to create a suitable rehabilitation package for the family members of the victims. Pathak has also asked the court to direct the respondents to place data regarding school premises used for consumption of illicit liquor and direct the authorities to take strict action against the
responsible persons.