Permit liquor from other states: HC
● THE JUDGE made it clear that booking cases against those who were bringing liquor from other states and seizing their vehicles is against law.
Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the state government that it allow people to possess specified quantity of intoxicants without permit or licence by implementing the GO 411 issued earlier.
Hearing a batch of petitions virtually on Wednesday, High Court Judge Justice D.V.S.S. Somayajulu observed that when the state government has issued an order earlier, it could as well implement it and allow people to possess liquor. The Judge made it clear that booking cases against those who were bringing liquor from other states and seizing vehicles is against law.
The state government had issued GO MS No. 411 dated 2409-2019 stating that under subsection (1) of section 14 of AP Excise Act, 1968, and also in suppression of earlier order GO MS No. 274 dated 21-07-2014, a person may possess the maximum quantity of intoxicants at a time without a permit or licence with effect from 25-09their
2019. Accordingly, the order specified that a person can possess IMFL of three bottles of any size, foreign liquor of three bottles of any size, denatured / methylated spirit of three bulk litres, beer of six bottles of 650 ml each, and toddy of two bulk litres.
It may be mentioned that Karanam Srinivasulu and three others had filed a petition in the High Court challenging filing of a case against them by Rampachodavaram police under AP Excise (Amendment) Act,
2020 under section 34 (A). The court struck off the case and directed the police to release the vehicle seized by them.
Similarly, G. Madhusudhan
Reddy filed a petition in the High Court seeking annulment of the case booked by Jaggayyapeta police in Krishna district under section 34 (A) of AP Excise (Amendment) Act, 2020, saying that they were having the liquor within the permissible limits as per GO 411. The court did not interfere in the case following some controversial issues involved in it.
Police and personnel of the newly formed State Enforcement Bureau are booking several cases against those bringing intoxicants from neighbouring states, treating them as non-duty paid and are seizing their vehicles.