Gujarat to bring ordinance to auction vehicles seized for ferrying liquor

Gandhinagar: Gujarat govt is likely to promulgate an ordinance to make changes in the prohibition act that will enable the govt to auction vehicles seized for ferrying liquor and other intoxicants even before a final order in such cases is pronounced by courts. The draft of a bill to amend the prohibition act was submitted by the govt in the budget session of the assembly earlier this year, but it was not tabled in the session.
Top sources in govt said, “A few minor changes are expected to be made in the draft of the bill which was submitted to the assembly secretariat.The proposed amendments to the prohibition act are likely to be promulgated in the form of an ordinance, which is likely to be announced soon after the completion of the general election.”
Existing provisions of sub section 2 of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949 states that confiscated animals, carts, vessels or other conveyances carrying intoxicants, hemp, mhowra flowers shall not be released on bond or surety till the final judgment of the court.
“In view of this, the vehicles so confiscated cannot be returned to the owners and they remain unused in the police station or in the court compound till the final judgment of the case, and in these circumstances, the condition of the vehicles becomes deteriorated. To overcome this situation, the state govt considers it necessary to amend the said sub section 2 so as to dispose of such vehicles by way of auction,” the statement of objects and reasons of the draft which was submitted to the assembly secretariat in Feb this year said.
Official sources said that once the ordinance is promulgated, govt will be able to auction vehicles used to ferrying liquor in a time bound manner.