De-addiction centres: HC issues direction to TN Govt

Chennai, June 19 (UNI) Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Government to consider and dispose of a petition filed by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Women's Wing President Nirmala Raja regarding running of the State-owned TASMAC liquor shops and starting de-addiction centres in the State.

Disposing of the petition, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A K Ganguly and Mr Justice Ibrahim Kalifullah, directed the Secretary to the Government, Prohibition and Excise, to consider the petition within six weeks.

The petitioner submitted that the Government, which was running TASMAC shops all over the State, had asked the shops to increase its revenue target. As youngsters would be affected by this move, the Government should reduce the number of such shops, she said, adding that the Government should open more de-addiction centres across the State.

Her representations to the Government have fallen on deaf ears and the Government had not initiated any action in the matter, she submitted, praying for a direction to the Government in this regard.

When the matter came up for final hearing today, Public Prosecutor Raja Kalifullah submitted that the Government had set up 50 de-addiction centres throughout the State and proposed to start such centres in more areas.

The Bench recorded the Public Prosecutor's submissions and disposed of the petition.

UNI XR-GD RL KP2017