The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued a warning to the Tamil Nadu government in a petition seeking permission to tap and sell toddy in the state. The court granted a final opportunity for the government to file its response.
The petition was filed by Arumugam of Thoothukudi. He contended that toddy was banned citing allegations that intoxicating chemicals were being mixed into it and that it was harmful to health, as stated earlier by the government during hearings in a related case.
Arguing that the ban was imposed to boost sales of foreign liquor, the petitioner claimed toddy has lower intoxicating effect compared to foreign liquor. He sought removal of the prohibition under the Prohibition Act and requested directions to permit tapping and sale of toddy from palm trees for private and medical use.
A bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman noted that the case was filed in 2020 but the state had not filed a counter affidavit so far, despite earlier directions to the Home Secretary and the Prohibition and Excise Secretary. The court warned that if the reply is not filed by April 27, costs would be imposed at the next hearing, and adjourned the matter.
