IMPOSING PROHIBITION >From times immemorial, liquor features in our ancient texts. All over the >world people manufacture and enjoy sophisticated liquors and like tobacco, it >has proved injurious to health, however unlike tobacco, if imbibed >knowledgeably and prudently, it can be a medecine and even an exilir for the >Gods! In India the misuse by people, mainly poor male labor population to the >detriment of their families and those who get addicted to it, cause major >problems. In their immense wisdom, the makers of our Constituition have >considered and allowed for this. Anything in excess is bad for health!The >Supreme Court has therefore imposed Rs 1 lakh cost on the NGO for seeking >country wide enforcement of prohibition whilst bringing to its notice Article >37 under directive principles " shall not be enforceable by any court" also >Article 47 " the state shall endeavor to bring prohibition of consumption, >except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are >injurious to health". The State is supposed to consider these principles in >making laws accordingly. Freedom of speech, liberty and right to life is >paramount. Smokers therefore have exclusive areas in public places by law >where they may smoke. What is required is education and not prohibition, which >has never been a success wherever enforced and in fact leads to further ills >of corruption, smuggling and spurious liquor deaths! We badly need mature and >intelligent democratic lawmakers. The Supreme Court therefore considered that >moving this court for the proposed all India ban as frivolous and fined the >NGO accordingly for wasting the court's time. Cheers!
