NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea filed by Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay to prohibit the consumption of the intoxicating drinks and drugs in the national capital, except for the medicinal purposes.A bench of Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit and Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Indira Banerjee observed that this was a policy matter in which the court does not intervene.
It allowed withdrawal of the petition as dismissed on Upadhyay, sensing the mood of the Court.
The court observed there are thoughts and counter thoughts on the issue. “Some people say that drinks taken in small quantities can be good for health.”
The petitioner had sought to frame an effective policy to prohibit the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health, in spirit of Article 47 read with Article 21, 38, 39, 46 and 51A of the Constitution of India.
The petition also sought to introduce an effective health warning that covers at least 50% of liquor bottles/containers on both sides and print intoxicating drinks related health hazards on it in Hindi and English languages.
The plea also demanded to ban the advertisement of intoxicating drinks and start a campaign to educate people about the health hazards due to consumption of intoxicating drinks through electronic, print and social media.
The petitioner also urged to insert a chapter on health hazards of intoxicating drinks in syllabus of primary classes in spirit of the right to health & education guaranteed under Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution of India.
