People of all categories in the country in general and those in J&K State in particular have expressed great satisfaction on the order of the Supreme Court of India banning liquor shops and their signage on all National and State highways as an essential measure to reduce innocent fatalities in traffic accidents. This order of the Apex Court has great relevance to our State because most of our highways run over mountainous region which even otherwise are very dangerous for driving. Truck and bus drivers are notorious for driving in a state of inebriation. Thus they more often than not lose control over the bus but at the heavy cost of precious lives of passengers. The Apex Court while issuing the order said that it has reports that nearly 1.40 lakh people were killed in motor accidents in the country during one year and most of these accidents were caused by drivers driving in a state of drunkenness.
The Supreme Court has ordered that no license of liquor vends operating along the National or State Highways will be renewed after March 31, 2017. This is a welcome order. However, we would like to point out two issues. The first is that the liquor mafia is very strong in the country and the State. As the order of the Supreme Court will adversely affect the mafia, it is but natural that they will try to find clandestine ways of continuing their business covertly. The State Road Traffic Department shall have to be extraordinarily vigilant to ensure that no underhand means are adopted by liquor mafia to continue their business. They have no moral scruples that would prevent them from flouting the orders of the Supreme Court. The second point is that the traffic police should have elaborate arrangement of subjecting the drivers to strict liquor test if they are plying along National or State Highways. Testing teams should be mobile and they are supposed to conduct the tests on drivers at random. The reported cases should be fined heavily as deterrent to driving after drinking.
We congratulate and thank the Supreme Court for a very people friendly order and we also hope that it will save the lives of millions of people in the country from wanton destruction.
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