The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court on Wednesday refused to hear a PIL filed by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare against the Maharashtra government for using foodgrains for manufacturing liquor. Justice SB Deshmukh at the division bench led by Justice Sharad Bobde cited 'not before me' as the reason of not hearing the plea. Now, the PIL will be listed before another division bench.
The petitioners, including renowned social workers Dr Abhay and Rani Bang, knocked the judiciary's doors over the government's decision to issue licenses to the wards of influential politicians to produce alcohol from foodgrains. They petitioners questioned the decision of the Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) government to offer grants to projects involved in production of alcohol. The other petitioners in the PIL included Dr Prakash Amte, Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Dr Anil Awchat, Hiraman Wankhede and Sachin Tiwale.
The PIL alleged that Amit Deshmukh, son of union rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh along with Pratapsinh Patil, BJP leader Gopinath Munde's daughter Shweta Palwe, NCP leader Govindrao Adik, and former minister Vimal Mundada are directly or indirectly engaged in making alcohol from foodgrains. All They were made respondents in the case along with the government and the state excise department commissioner.
The other respondents included Yashraj Ethanol Procession, Mallikarjun Distilleries, Shahapur Distilleries, Grainotch Industries, Radico NV Distilleries, Vitthal Distilleries, Adlars Bio-energy, Jogeshwari Beverages, Pranav Agrotech, Victoria Agro Food Processing, Alco Plus Producers and Pionium Industries.
The government had promised a review of the policy, but later granted licences and grants to politicians or their sons. Last year, a similar PIL filed by social worker Chetan Kamble was dismissed by the Bombay high court. After that, 15 factories began producing liquor from foodgrains.
The concept was introduced by the government with a view to ensure development of the backward regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. The government's view was that alcohol production from jowar will offer higher prices to farmers and boost production.
In other countries, there's a huge demand for liquor from foodgrains. After citing this example, the government approved the proposal for foodgrain-based alcohol production despite stiff opposition from the planning and finance departments.
The petitioners, including renowned social workers Dr Abhay and Rani Bang, knocked the judiciary's doors over the government's decision to issue licenses to the wards of influential politicians to produce alcohol from foodgrains. They petitioners questioned the decision of the Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) government to offer grants to projects involved in production of alcohol. The other petitioners in the PIL included Dr Prakash Amte, Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Dr Anil Awchat, Hiraman Wankhede and Sachin Tiwale.
The PIL alleged that Amit Deshmukh, son of union rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh along with Pratapsinh Patil, BJP leader Gopinath Munde's daughter Shweta Palwe, NCP leader Govindrao Adik, and former minister Vimal Mundada are directly or indirectly engaged in making alcohol from foodgrains. All They were made respondents in the case along with the government and the state excise department commissioner.
The other respondents included Yashraj Ethanol Procession, Mallikarjun Distilleries, Shahapur Distilleries, Grainotch Industries, Radico NV Distilleries, Vitthal Distilleries, Adlars Bio-energy, Jogeshwari Beverages, Pranav Agrotech, Victoria Agro Food Processing, Alco Plus Producers and Pionium Industries.
The government had promised a review of the policy, but later granted licences and grants to politicians or their sons. Last year, a similar PIL filed by social worker Chetan Kamble was dismissed by the Bombay high court. After that, 15 factories began producing liquor from foodgrains.
The concept was introduced by the government with a view to ensure development of the backward regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. The government's view was that alcohol production from jowar will offer higher prices to farmers and boost production.
In other countries, there's a huge demand for liquor from foodgrains. After citing this example, the government approved the proposal for foodgrain-based alcohol production despite stiff opposition from the planning and finance departments.
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