Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 14: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two Advocates and one law student against mushroom growth of bars and restaurants and wine shops in City of Temples in general and Jammu Division in particular, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice BS Walia today issued notice to the State through Excise Commissioner, Deputy Excise Commissioner and others for filing response within one week.
After hearing Advocate Suhasni Vasisatha appearing for the PIL, the DB also directed respondents to file response with reference to the licenses granted in favour of liquor shops near the places of worship, hospitals, educational institutions, along State Highway or National Highway within one week.
In the PIL filed by Advocates Suhasni Vasisatha, Deepa Sharma and law Student Shashank Vasisath, it has been submitted that many problems are being faced by the common public in Jammu because of opening of new bars and restaurants along with the existing bars and restaurants and wine shops which are already in huge number thereby bringing the Jammu Division under the alarming zone.
“This is adversely impacting the citizens, especially women, young girls, children and youngsters”, the petition said, adding “as per the information received under Right to Information Act, presently there are 220 wine shops in Jammu Division. Besides, there are already 109 bars and restaurants in Jammu Division while as there are only 3 wine shops and 2 bars and restaurants in Kashmir Division and two wine shops and 20 bars and restaurants in Ladakh Division”.
“Despite huge number of wine shops as well as bars and restaurants, the Excise Department is still issuing licenses for opening of new bars and restaurants”, the petition said, adding “though representation has been made to the respondents to stop the process of fresh allotments in the State in the interest of public at large but respondents are still granting licenses on day to day basis”.
“Recently, the license has been granted to Ajay Grover, son of Shayam Grover of Trikuta Nagar. Moreover, as per information sought under RTI Act the process of allotment of 4 bars and restaurants in the area between Kunjwani and Narwal i.e. Yellow Chilli Resturant, Sim Dip Restaurant, Bachittar Restaurant and Global Restaurant is also on despite the fact that there are already 3 wine shops and 4 bars and restaurants in this area”, the petition said, adding “this process is making the citizens, especially, women, old age persons, children, even infants in womb to suffer without any fault on their part. Moreover, the process of granting as well as renewing the licenses is going even for the prohibited areas where the wine shops as well as bars and restaurants are existing near the place of worship, health institutions and educational institutions within the Jammu division”.
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