SC issues notice on PIL against liquor sold in tetra packs
New Delhi, May 20: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and all states on a PIL raising concerns over the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, PET bottles, plastic sachets and other portable containers. During the hearing, the CJI Kant-led Bench orally remarked, “This is very deceptive”. The plea seeks formulation of uniform and harmonised guidelines across states to regulate the packaging of liquor, contending that divergent definitions under various State Excise Acts allow alcohol to be sold in “flasks”, “pots”, “wrappers” and other similar receptacles. According to the petition, alcohol is increasingly being sold in portable and inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, plastic sachets and small PET bottles, which can be easily concealed and carried in public places. (IANS)
SC rejects PIL challenging caste enumeration during Census
New Delhi, May 20: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a PIL challenging the Centre’s decision to conduct caste-based Census, saying the issue falls under the policy domain. The top court said the government must know the number of persons belonging to backward castes to frame welfare measures. The top court did not agree to the submissions of PIL petitioner Sudhakar Gummula that plenty of information and figures were available with the government on caste details. “These are all policy matters, whether the Census should be caste-based or not. What is wrong with it? The government must know as to how many people are in the backward class, what kind of welfare measures are to be taken for them. It is within the policy domain,” the CJI said while dismissing the PIL. (PTI)
