Guv okays death penalty for trading in spurious liquor

Gandhinagar, 5 December, 2011

Gujarat Governor Dr. Kamla Beniwal has given her approval to The Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Bill

The Gujarat State Assembly had with a majority vote passed The Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Bill proposing stringent punishment up to death penalty to deal with illicit liquor trade after year 2009 hooch tragedy that claimed over 130 lives in the State.

The Gujarat Government under the amendment had sought to award death penalty for manufacturing or selling hooch if the consumption of the product causes any death.

A new section 65A had been inserted which provides for punishment for manufacturing spurious liquor.

The amendment states that those indulging in manufacture, transportation, stocking and sale of illicit liquor shall be liable for punishment of upto 10 years. In no case, the punishment would be less than seven years.

Another new section 94A has been proposed to be inserted which provides for punishment for failure in duty by prohibition officials or police officers.

Under this section, the officials are liable for punishment of upto one year for negligence in duty.

Moreover, vehicles transporting liquor would be confiscated by the authorities.

“It is also provided that conveying vehicles used in transport of the liquor shall not be released on bond or surety, in cases of where the quantity of the seized liquor exceeds the quantity as may be prescribed by rules, till the final order of the court,” the Bill stated.