C'garh HC junks plea against govt decision to run liquor shop

The Chhattisgarh High Court today dismissed a plea challenging the government's decision to sell liquorthrough state-run outlets.
The division bench of Chief Justice TB Radhakrishnan and Justice Pritinker Diwakar junked the plea saying the decision to sell liquor through government outlets is a policy decision which warrants no interference from the court.
The petition, filed by social worker Mamta Sharma and two others, had contended that the decision was in violation of Article 47 of the Constitution which states that it is duty of the government to improve public health.
But the government, however, instead of discouraging liquor consumption, is promoting it by operating state-run shops in an open violation of the Article, petitioners' lawyer Satish Chandra Verma had contended.

The high court earlier had served notices to the state's excise department and other departments seeking their replies to the petition within two weeks.
In its reply, the government had said it was its policy decision.