Aug. 14: The Brihattar Christian Basti Aanchalik Xasatan Nagarik Mancha has appealed to all residents to ensure strict implementation of the August 9 Gauhati High Court order, directing closure of all liquor shops and bars existing within a radius of 500 metres of educational institutions, places of worship, hospitals, dispensaries and courts.

“We welcome the court order banning wine shops and bars from operating within 500 metres of educational institutions, religious places, hospitals, dispensaries and courts. While it is the duty of the state government, excise department and the district administration, residents should also play an active role in ensuring no one violates the order in their respective localities. If the residents find any instance of flouting norms, they should report the matter to the district administration,” said Jayanta Deka, convener of the residents’ forum.

The organisation had also submitted memorandums to the Kamrup (metro) district administration, police and the excise department in September last year, demanding the bars found violating laws to be closed down.

They had also cited in their memorandum that a number of wine shops and a bar existed on GS Road, at close proximity to the Dispur Baptist Church. But the demands were never addressed till the recent court order.

Rule 183 (2) of Assam Excise Rules 1945, which was published in the Assam Gazette in May 2005, states liquor shops should not be located at a distance of not less than 500 metres from hospitals, religious, educational or any other similar buildings or institutions.

“It is true that after the closure of bars and liquor shops, many people will become unemployed. But the government and the excise department should be blamed for the job loss. If the law already existed, they should not have issued licences to the bar and liquor shop owners in the first place,” said Deka.