MP rights panel drags govt to court over liquor shops

While passing the order last year,the commissions acting chairman,Justice A K Saxena,had observed that there were no liquor shops near government colonies because officers knew their life would become difficult. The order had asked the government to replace its 2001 notification with a new one within two months.

The commission cited the example of Vara gram panchayat in Balaghat district which,after MPHRCs recommendation called a special gram sabha and decided to shift a 15-year-old liquor shop.

The district authorities had earlier refused to shift the shop,saying it would cost the government excise revenue but changed its stand after the gram sabha resolution.

The commission has made the state government and the excise commissioner respondents in the writ petition that will be heard after the summer vacation.