By NNN-PTI,
Ahmedabad : In the backdrop of the recent hooch tragedy in the state that claimed over 130 lives, the Gujarat assembly Tuesday passed a bill proposing stringent punishment upto death penalty to deal with illicit liquor trade.
The Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Bill 2009 was passed with a majority vote in the House.
“We have taken a historic step to pass such a bill in the current session of the Assembly, to amend prohibition law making it very stringent with an aim to control illicit liquor tragedy,” minister of state for Home, Amit Shah, said while introducing the bill.
Under the amendment, the government has sought to award death penalty for manufacturing or selling hooch provided the consumption of the product results into any death.
A new section 65A has been inserted which provides for punishment for manufacturing spurious liquor.