Petition challenges State fiat on dry days

MUMBAI, SEPT 6: A petition filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the State Government notification directing dry days during elections will come up for its final hearing on September 16.

The division bench of Justice N J Pandya and Justice R J Kochar on September 2, 1999, heard the petition filed by the Maharashtra Rajya Daru Vikreta Mahamandal. The association has challenged the validity of the State notification of July 12, 1999 declaring dry days to be observed in liquor bars, permit rooms, beer parlours, wine shops in the State during election period.

According to the petitioners, while the Representation of Peoples Act, 951 introduced the prohibition of the sale and consumption of liquor only for 48 hours ending with the conclusion of the polls, the State notification prohibited sale and consumption for four days, on the day of poll, two days preceding the polls, one day after poll and the day or days of counting.

Which meant that the dry days for Mumbai were 9th to 12th September, and 6thOctober if the counting concludes on the same day.