Aug. 9: Residents here offered varied reactions to Gauhati High Court’s order banning bars and liquor shops within a 500-metre radius of hospitals, courts, places of worship and educational institutions in the city.

Sumitra Hazarika

Social activist

We welcome the ruling. But the state government, district administration and police have to ensure that the order is implemented in reality. There are instances here of the same building housing educational institutions as well as liquor shops. These vendors surely get permission from the authorities concerned as otherwise, they cannot possibly operate from the same building which houses an educational institution.

A bar owner

If the law bans the existence of bars and liquor shops within 500 metres of hospitals, courts, religious places and educational institutions here, then nearly 80 per cent of these would face closure. However, we are law-abiding citizens and have to obey the high court ruling.

Bedabrata Gogoi

General secretary, Cotton College Union Society

We welcome the high court order, but it remains to be seen how effectively the order is implemented in the near future. There are numerous liquor shops near the Cotton College boys’ hostels and most of them are old.

A few months ago, the excise department had permitted a new bar to open shop in the area. It was only after a public outcry that it was eventually closed down. The question is how well the state government can take action against new bars and liquor shops when it has failed to do so in case of the old ones.

Hare Krishna Deka

Writer and former director-general of police of Assam

This is very sensible order and the state government and the district administration should ensure that it is implemented without fail.

As for the existing liquor shops, they can relocate to another place. Here, the ethical side has to be taken into consideration, as liquor has a detrimental effect on young people.