Wednesday, May 3 2006 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and the States to seriously consider imposing prohibition in view of the fact that more and more younger people were getting addicted to liquor.

"Article 47 of the Constitution of India clearly casts a duty on the State at least to reduce the consumption of liquor in the State gradually leading to prohibition itself," a Bench of Justice S B Sinha and Justice P K Balasubramanyan said.

"It appears to be right to point out that the time has come for the states and the Union Government to seriously think of taking steps to achieve the goal set by Article 47 of the Constitution of India," it said.

The apex court's observations came on an appeal filed by Maharashtra challenging an interim order passed by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court which had stayed the collection of licence fee from a liquor manufacturer in the state. The Bench set aside the High Court order.

Aricle 47 of the Constitution says, "The State shall regard the raising of the level of nuitrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medical purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injuririous to health."

According to Article 37, Directive Principles of State Policy are not enforceable by any court but they are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and "It shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws."