HC whips AP govt for its aggressive liquor policy

Hyderabad: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising Justice L Narasimha Reddy and Justice MSL Jaiswal, while dismissing a criminal appeal, faulted the State government for its aggressive liquor policy and directed the Government of Andhra Pradesh, “Through its Chief Secretary, or its Successor State, to make a fixed deposit of Rs 2,00,000 each to the minor children of the accused and the deceased, within a period of three months from Thursday. The amount shall remain in fixed deposit till the children attain majority.”

The bench was dealing with a criminal appeal where the appellant was handed a life sentence by the district Judge Warangal. The judge was dealing with the appeal of the eight-year-old son of the victim and the accused who pointed out that his mother was killed by his father. The bench lamented that person who had a long future before him, became slave of intoxicants, thanks to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, which has taken every possible step to make the liquor available at every nook and cranny of the State, through its aggressive marketing policies.

“This Court is rather pained to note that majority of the cases, that are the subject matters of the appeals arising in similar circumstances, while male youth got spoiled on account of the addiction of liquor, the effect thereof is felt by the unfortunate women, whose lives were taken away in a gruesome and cruel manner, under intoxication.” Justice Narasimha Reddy said in his order. The bench pointed out to the “irresponsible manner in which the State was pursuing its liquor policy and spoiling the families, particularly from the weaker sections of the society,” and justified its directions stating that a time has come when the State also must be made to pay for its irresponsible and anti-social policies.