Question : Spurious Liquor

(a) whether illegal trade in spurious and illicit liquor are on the rise in the country;

(b) the total number of persons died due to alleged consumption of spurious and illicit liquor during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Maharashtra;

(c) the quantum of spurious and illicit liquor seized, action taken against the guilty persons and the financial assistance provided to the families of victims during the said period, State-wise;

(d) whether the NHRC has issued any directive in this regard, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(e) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry in this regard and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(f) whether the Government has prepared any action plan for creating awareness among the public about the harmful effect of consumption of spurious/illicit liquor and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government to stop illegal trade of spurious and illicit liquor in consultation with the States in future?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c) : A total of 731, 497 and 1699 persons have died due to consumption of illicit/spurious liquor during 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. State/UT wise cases reported, persons died and persons injured due to consumption of illicit/spurious liquor is enclosed at
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L.S.US.Q.NO.1289. FOR 28.07.2015

Annexure – I. Information Collection on illicit liquor seized under the Excise Act has been started from 2014 onwards and is enclosed at Annexure-II.

(d) : The National Human Rights Commission also took suo moto cognizance of newspaper reports published and has issued notices to the concerned Chief Secretaries and other concerned authorities for factual report.

(e) to (g): The production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale of intoxicating liquors` are specifically covered by Entry 8 of List II (State List) of Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore the States have the exclusive power to regulate their production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale. Therefore, the State Governments are primarily responsible for controlling the sale of spurious liquor, prevention of such incidents of death due to consumption of spurious liquor and investigation into the matter for prosecuting the criminals. ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, the State Governments are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and for prosecuting the criminals through the machinery of their law enforcement agencies as also for protecting the life and property of the citizens. The Union Government, however, attaches highest importance to the matter of prevention of crime and therefore, has continued to urge to the State Governments/ UT Administrations to give more focused attention towards improving the administration of criminal justice system and taking such measures as are necessary for prevention and control of such crimes within their respective jurisdictions.
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