Notice to Centre, BCCI on Cricketers in Liquor Ads

Chandigarh, Oct 31 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notices for December 4 to the Union Health Ministry and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a case seeking directions to restrain Team India members --- Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Mohinder Singh Dhoni--- from appearing in the liquor sale promotion advertisements such as the ad for ''Royal Stag'' whisky.

The order of the division bench comprising Justice J S Khehar and Justice S D Anand came in response to a PIL filed by advocate H C Arora with which he attached copies of media clippings in support of his contention that the action was violative of the spirit of Article 47 of the Constitution of India which mandates the government to make endeavour to introduce prohibition against consumption of liquor except for medicinal purposes.

The advocate has taken exception to the ad submitting that the cricketers, being role models specially for the younger generation, could be setting wrong example when seen promoting the sale of liquor as consumption of liquor was injurious to health.

The advertisement featuring Yuvraj Singh carries slogan ''Average is the enemy, Make it large'' and the logos appearing alongside connect cricket with whisky.

The petitioner had argued that these cricketers were giving misleading slogans while knowing fully well that consumption of liquor is injurious to health.

It was earlier pointed out in the public interest litigation, that a number of articles written by leading cricket experts like Imran Khan, Viv Richards, Stephen Fleming and Mahela Jayawardene appearing in various newspapers show this Indian cricket trio of Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Mohinder Singh Dhoni supporting the liquor brand.

UNI XC JN PDS RN1619