An observation of Gujarat High Court to de-notify Union Territory (UT) Daman and make it part of adjoining Gujarat for effective implementation of Prohibition in the ‘dry State’ has resulted in fuelling rumours on merger of the UT with Gujarat.
The court reacted following a set of petitions moved by liquor vendors of Daman who were booked in different FIRs lodged by Gujarat police. In the case Gujarat Government submitted that nearly 90 per cent liquor smuggled into Gujarat was from Daman. The petitioners approached the court challenging the FIRs on the basis that the Bombay Prohibition Act is local law of Gujarat and it can’t be applied to the Daman residents.
Justice JB Pardiwala while refusing to quash FIRs against liquor vendors of Daman observed that prohibition policy in the State was not effective or something wrong with the implementation of law.
Of the 3, 99221 criminal cases pending as on February end in Gujarat, more than 55,600 are under Prohibition Act, said Pardiwala, adding that prohibition policy in the State had not worked due to easy entry points for liquor and Daman was one of the biggest hub where liquor was available in abundance and large quantity of liquor being transported in Gujarat from Daman.
“It is high time that the Central Government consider denotifying Daman as UT and make it part of Gujarat so that recently amended stringent Prohibition Act can be made applicable effectively,” he said.
Since past six months rumours are spreading like a wildfire that adjoining UT - Daman, Diu, Dadara & Nagar Haveli would be merged with the State of Gujarat. Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to South Gujarat and Silvassa (capital of Dadara & Nagar Haveli) on Sunday has only added fuel to the rumour. Many in the UT strongly believe that PM Modi himself would announce merger during his visit.