The Tamil Nadu government on Monday told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the prohibition on tapping and selling kallu (palm toddy) is a policy decision and has been enforced by following due legal procedure.
The submission came during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Arumugam of Millerpuram, Thoothukudi. The petitioner argued that kallu is listed as a safe food item under the Central Food Safety law and described it as a natural drink that does not harm health.
He contended that provisions under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition law ban tapping, sale and possession of kallu, and claimed this conflicts with the Central law. Seeking relief, he urged the court to declare the state provision illegal and direct the government to lift the ban, proposing that sales could be permitted with conditions and could also generate additional revenue.
Appearing for the state, government counsel Maharajan said adulteration in kallu could lead to loss of life and reiterated that the ban is rooted in government policy. The bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman adjourned the matter to June 7.
