TN liquor law amended for stiffer penalties

AS the death toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy keeps rising with 65 lives lost so far, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday amended the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937 (TNPA) to enhance the prison term and fine for offences related to manufacture, possession, and sale of illicit liquor in the state.

- T MURUGANANDHAM

Minister for Prohibition and Excise S Muthusamy, who tabled the bill, said as per the amendments, all the movable properties associated with the offence would be confiscated and unlicensed places used for consumption of liquor would be sealed. Heinous offences would be made non-compoundable, Muthusamy said.

The Principal Act already prescribes life sentence for those involved in these offences when they result in loss of lives. In the amendment, the quantum of the fine for such cases has been increased from ₹5,000 to 10 lakh. "In any other case, offences shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than 5 years, but which may extend up to 10 years and with fine which shall not be less than 5 lakh but which may extend up to 10 lakh," the amendment bill said.