High court refuses to stay liquor ban in Chandrapur

Nagpur: In a setback to liquor producing factories and its allied industries, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in the Maharashtra government’s decision of January 20 to enforce total prohibition on its production and consumption in Chandrapur.
A division bench comprising Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Mridula Bhatkar observed they wouldn’t like to interfere in the policy decision and limit themselves only to the issue of rehabilitation of workers who will render jobless after the liquor ban came into the effect.The judges asked the government to reply on steps taken for rehabilitation of about 15,000 workers in the liquor industry and nearly 70,000 dependents on them within two weeks before the adjourning the plea.
Vidarbha Prahar Kamgar Sanghtana president Harshal Chiplunkar had challenged the government’s decision through counsel Arun Patil contending that the latter hadn't taken proper steps before enforcing the ban to come into effect from April 1.
He argued that the government should have created awareness among the citizens and also consulted the liquor industry before the decision. He added that they should have set up de-addiction centres in Chandrapur. He apprehended the ban would render thousands of workers jobless as the government should have given them hearing.
Indirectly taking a dig at finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, the petitioner stated that his personal ego should not play a role in enforcing a decision harmful for the workforce. He said a ban on sale, production and consumption of liquor in Chandrapur was in gross violation of principles of natural justice, though the government and ministers don’t not have powers to ignore the aspect of rehabilitation of 15,000 workers engaged in this trade.
Shramik Elgar Sanghatna that had led the fight to impose the ban then filed an intervention through its president Paromita Goswami in the court, fully supporting the government's decision to ban sale and production of liquor in Chandrapur.
During last hearing, the court issued notices to the respondents, including ministers, MP, MLAs and MLCs from Chandrapur, principal secretaries of excise, revenue, home, labour and industry departments, and various Labour Department officers at Nagpur and Chandrapur.
Prominent among them included – finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, revenue minister Eknathrao Khadse, MLAs --- Vijay Wadettiwar, Balu Dhanorkar, and Bunty alias Kirti Kumar Bangadiya, MLCs – Shobhatai Fadnavis, Nitesh Bangadiya, Nanabhau Shyamkule, Commissioner of State Excise and Chandrapur collector are made respondents in the case.