Madras HC Urges State Govt to Reconsider Ban on ‘Sale of Toddy’

The Madras High Court on Monday orally asked the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the state’s ban on the sale of toddy.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar and Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, observed that it was an opportune moment to revisit the policy decision, given the numerous allegations of corruption facing TASMAC (the state-run alcoholic beverages retail chain).

The bench clarified that it was not issuing any formal direction but was merely suggesting that the state reconsider its policy. This observation was made during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by S. Muralidharan, an IT employee from Chennai.

The court also ordered a notice to be issued to the state government and scheduled further hearings for July 29. In his PIL, Muralidharan has challenged the constitutionality of a 1986 amendment to the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act that banned toddy, as well as a 2003 amendment granting TASMAC the exclusive right to sell liquor in the state.

It is to be noted that toddy has been banned in Tamil Nadu for over 30 years.

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