PIL against opening of new wine shops
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against opening of new wine shops in the City of Temples, High Court today issued notices to the Financial Commissioner Finance Department and Excise Commissioner.
After hearing Advocate Ankur Sharma for the PIL filed by Care Nature and Environment Society through its Secretary Ruchi Chauhan Khan, Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul issued notice to Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through Financial Commissioner Finance Department, Excise Commissioner and Deputy Excise Commissioner Jammu.
In the PIL, prayer has also been made for declaring Clauses 3.2.3 and 3.2.4 of the J&K Excise Policy issued vide SRO 128 dated 25.02.2019 as unconstitutional as the same provide for the grant of new licenses in un-served and under-served areas of J&K UT.
“There is uneven distribution of wine shop licenses vis a vis Jammu and Kashmir provinces. Out of a total of 224 wine shops in J&K Union Territory, Jammu Division has a share of 220 such shops whereas Kashmir Division has only 04 such shops”, the PIL said, adding “out of a total of 319 bars in the Union Territory of J&K, there are 311 such bars in Jammu Division whereas in Kashmir Division there are nearly 08 such bars”.
“The Excise Policy issued vide SRO 128 dated 25.02.2019 provides for the issuance of more licenses for wine shops and bars to the determent of the culture, health, moral and spiritual values of the people of Jammu division”, the PIL said.
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