Madras High Court orders action against sub-standard distilleries

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave the direction on a public interest litigations (PIL) by one Sriraman seeking to take action on 16 distilleries for manufacturing, bottling and selling sub- standard liquor through state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets. 

"Action shall be taken in case contravention of any prescribed standards," the bench said. 

The petitioner, while referring to a newspaper report, submitted that certain alcohol drinks do not conform to the prescribed standards. 

There were dangerous levels of tartaric acid, volatile acid and other characteristics in some of the alcohol, he submitted and contended that the authorities failed to take care on the standards of the quality of the liquor sold at TASMAC outlets, he said. 

The bench ordered that notices be issued to distilleries and the government over the matter, which it posted for further hearing to December 12.