Excise and Taxation Commissioners (ETCs) of Punjab and Haryana are in dock for not being able to remove liquor vends along national highways. Taking a strict view on the failure of both the States to act upon judicial directions, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned both the authorities in person to explain their position on the matter.
The directions came as the court took cognisance of media reports, in which liquor vends were shown running along the highways in violation of the High Court orders.
Terming it to be a mockery of judicial orders by the state authorities, a Bench headed by Justice AK Mittal observed that a welfare state should not be so adamant in implementing the directions of the court issued for public cause.
Refuting excuses of Punjab Government to justify running of liquor vends along the highways, the High Court on November 30 had observed that if the state is concerned with the revenue generation through liquor vends only, then it should open a liquor vend in the premises of State civil secretariat.
The matter of liquor vends along highways was brought to High Court by NGO, Arrive Safe through its President Harman Singh Sidhu, who had demanded closure of liquor vends on national and state highways as mixing drink with driving was one of the major causes of road accidents.
On March 18, 2014, the HC had directed both the states of Punjab and Haryana to remove liquor vends along highways or shift them at a distance of at least 1000 meters away from the national highways, so that they may not be visible to the users of highways.
Directing presence of both the authorities, the court adjourned the matter for December 21.