A public interest Litigation was filed in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the TN government to treat increasing trends of alcoholism as a public health issue and to start de-addiction centres in all hospitals and Primary Health Centres at the earliest. Petitioner, A Narayanan, MD of a firm which deals with scientific equipment, said he was not for prohibition but to highlight the state government's "total failure" to appreciate that alcoholism had reached 'epidemic proportions in TN’ due to acts of commission and omission of various wings of the government.

Alcoholism is a destructive disease which causes disability and death in countries like India, according to world health organization (WHO). Alcoholism is a growing public health issue, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups, especially the socially backward and poor', mentioned Narayanan. Charging that the government is interested in money making and overlooking the fact that it had a responsibility to control, if not, prevent alcoholism; he contended that the protector of the people's health had "unfortunately turned into a perpetrator of alcoholism." A GO stated that liquor should be sold only to those aged above 21, lot of minors could be found in bars attached to liquor shops, he alleged.

After the PIL came up for hearing the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice K Sasidharan, counsel for the state government and Centre took notice. - Agencies

M. Stephen.

Reporter.

Anytime Chennai News Team.