Ahmedabad: A PIL was filed in the Gujarat high court on Thursday challenging the state govt’s decision to relax liquor prohibition laws at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) near Gandhinagar.
A petitioner, Irfan Bhangani, from a remote village of Dhanej Bakula in the Gir forest, has sought revocation of the notification issued by the director of narcotics and excise on December 22, 2023, by which exemptions to the Gujarat Prohibition Act have been granted to employees and visitors at GIFT City.
His petition filed through advocate Prashant Chavda contends that data from the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) reveals that in states without liquor prohibition, crime rates are higher. There are more incidents of drunken driving and accidents recorded and more cases of crime against women including rape compared to states where there is a ban on liquor consumption.
The petition claimed that the govt’s decision to relax prohibition laws in GIFT City is intended at benefiting the wealthy and influential people. It is aimed at greater appreciation of real estate for property owners in this area. If the government is really interested in the betterment of commoners and backward people, it should relax these laws in tribal areas, where mahuda trees are grown. Breweries can be established in these remote areas. If all the people do not get the benefit and only GIFT City enjoys it, it is a monopoly. Therefore, it would be better to have a complete ban across the state.
The petition asserts that there is no interest of the common people in GIFT City, but only big politically influential persons who have interests in GIFT City. It has also been contended that the govt has started relaxing liquor laws so that it does not have to deal with crimes related to the prohibition laws. It has demanded the cancellation of the notification granting the relaxation in prohibition to GIFT City. The petitioner has argued that allowing this relaxation is very serious.
A petitioner, Irfan Bhangani, from a remote village of Dhanej Bakula in the Gir forest, has sought revocation of the notification issued by the director of narcotics and excise on December 22, 2023, by which exemptions to the Gujarat Prohibition Act have been granted to employees and visitors at GIFT City.
His petition filed through advocate Prashant Chavda contends that data from the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) reveals that in states without liquor prohibition, crime rates are higher. There are more incidents of drunken driving and accidents recorded and more cases of crime against women including rape compared to states where there is a ban on liquor consumption.
The petition claimed that the govt’s decision to relax prohibition laws in GIFT City is intended at benefiting the wealthy and influential people. It is aimed at greater appreciation of real estate for property owners in this area. If the government is really interested in the betterment of commoners and backward people, it should relax these laws in tribal areas, where mahuda trees are grown. Breweries can be established in these remote areas. If all the people do not get the benefit and only GIFT City enjoys it, it is a monopoly. Therefore, it would be better to have a complete ban across the state.
The petition asserts that there is no interest of the common people in GIFT City, but only big politically influential persons who have interests in GIFT City. It has also been contended that the govt has started relaxing liquor laws so that it does not have to deal with crimes related to the prohibition laws. It has demanded the cancellation of the notification granting the relaxation in prohibition to GIFT City. The petitioner has argued that allowing this relaxation is very serious.
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