Karnataka HC directs Rehabilitation scheme for Arrack vendors

Bangalore, Jun 29 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today directed the State Government to evolve a rehabilitation scheme within two months for Arrack Vendors and workers, who will be hit by ban on sale of arrack.

While disposing off a petition by Bangalore City and Rural District Arrack Vendors Association and its members, Mr Justice K L Manjunath took note on record the submission made on behalf of the government and observed that the government should consider and recommendations and suggestions made by the petitioners regarding the rehabilitation and evolve a scheme as early as possible and not later than two months.

The petitioners challenged the decision of the government declared in the Budget to ban manufacture and sale of arrack in the State of Karnataka from July one, 2007. They sought for a direction to accept the recommendation and suggestions made by them while considering the scheme of rehabilitation of arrack vendors by the government.

The petitioners claimed to be licensed vendors of arrack and the first petitioner association stated that it represented about 2,20,000 arrack vendors and workers whose names had been found in the Noukarnama prepared as per the provisions of the Excise Act and Rules. It was stated that the arrack vending was the only source of their livelihood and they actually earned a meager income of about Rs.30 per day. It was contended that the proposed ban was highly arbitrary and in violation of their fundamental right under Article 19(1)(g) and Article 14 of the Constitution of India being discremenatory. The petitioners further contended that the content of percentage of Ethyl Alcohol in arrack as well as in other Indian made foreign liquor was the same and therefore the ban on only sale and manufacture of arrack was discriminatory and unreasonable and did not fulfill the purpose of banning.

The State government represented by the Advocate General stated and supported the decision to ban on the ground that the impugned decision was taken in view of the social evil and harm the consumption of arrack was causing. However it was submitted that the case of the petitioners would be considered by the government in the light of the difficulties of the workers and vendors of arrack.

UNI