Committee to look into alcohol related problems in the State of Tamil Nadu and submit action report

Madras High Court: A writ petition was filed regarding increasing alcohol related problems in the state of Tamil Nadu. The petitioners, Advocate’s Forum for Social Justice, prayed for the enactment of a scheme in light of the recommendations set out in the ‘global status report on alcohol and health 2014’and the constitutional obligation of the State enshrined in Article 21 and Article 47 of the Constitution of India. A division bench of the Madras High Court comprising of S.K.Kaul, CJ and R. Mahadevan J., while hearing the writ petition expressed concern about (a) the consumption of alcohol by the under aged sector and (b) poor families diverting their earnings towards purchase of alcohol. The bench directed the state of Tamil Nadu to form a Committee within 2 weeks to look into the problem and take measures to reduce alcohol consumption in the state. The Committee is required to submit a status report on the action taken within 2 months of its constitution. [Advocate’s Forum for Social Justice v. State of T.N., 2016 SCC Online Mad 4900, decided on 17.06.2016]