Gujarat govt notifies rules for new prohibition law

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government on Tuesday notified rules for the new stringent prohibition law with provision of up to ten years jail for manufacturing, purchase, sale and transportation of liquor in the dry state.

The Gujarat Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the state Assembly in February this year and subsequently became an Act in March after the state Governor OP Kohli gave his assent.

As per the rules issued today for the Act, the state government would constitute a monitoring cell to enforce the liquor ban in the state, a government release said.

Now, citizens can directly inform the state government about any liquor-related illegal activity by dialling the toll-free number- 14405. People can also inform the state monitoring cell on its mobile number- 9978934444, the release said adding that the identity of the caller would not be revealed.

For the effective implementation of the Act, the government will use social media to spread awareness. People can also share details with the monitoring cell on its Facebook page 'SMC Gujarat', the release said.

The Act provides for stringent action against bootleggers, tipplers as well as officials who help culprits to escape during raids on liquor dens.

As per the Act, those found guilty of manufacturing, purchasing, selling or transporting liquor would face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 5 lakhs. In the previous Act, punishment for this illegal activity was just 3 years, said the release.

Similarly, liquor den operators as well as those helping them would face imprisonment of up to 10 years.

The Act says that people who create ruckus or harass others in an inebriated condition, will face a jail-term of up to three years, not less than one year.

Police officials found guilty of helping bootleggers in escaping during the raids would attract a punishment of seven years in jail and Rs 1 lakh in fine.