HC notice to Maha govt on actor Imran Khan’s PIL

Zeenews Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to file its reply to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bollywood actor Imran Khan and his brother-in-law Vedant Malik by April 15. The High Court had on Thursday refused to stay a government notification, issued less than two years ago, that raised the legal age for consumption of hard liquor from 21 to 25. While the court ruled that it isn’t in favour of granting a stay on the notification, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice AV Mohta said the age issue needs more consideration, reported DNA. “At the age of 18, a person is allowed to vote and procure a driver’s licence. Girls are allowed to marry at this age. The government cannot impose such an arbitrary restriction. A person aged 18 can make his own decision,” Milind Sathe, a senior counsel representing the petitioners was quoted as saying. He added that the state government’s dictum was in contravention of the exercise of the right of choice under the Constitution. “It’s a question of right of choice. I must have a say in deciding what I want to do. Can the state government dictate that?”