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Ranchi, 27 August (HS). The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday heard the court's suo motu case on the prevention of the sale of narcotics like opium, hashish, marijuana and illegal liquor in the state. During the hearing, a strong comment was made on the police's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
The court orally said that it has been said that in future, licenses will not be given to retail liquor shops and bar-restaurants near temples and educational institutions in the capital Ranchi, but it is not clear what will be done to cancel the licenses of bar-restaurants and retail liquor shops operating near temples and educational institutions? The state government should tell when the bars and restaurants and retail liquor shops open near temples and educational institutions will be closed?
The court said that the police's SOP should not be just about eyewash. A criminal incident had taken place recently due to the bar-restaurants being open till late night. Incidents of assault and murder have been taking place in bar-restaurants. Law and order is the responsibility of the police. In such a situation, by taking strict steps and getting the bar-restaurants closed at the stipulated time, incidents of violence can be prevented there.
In the case, the amicus curiae requested for time to reply to the police's SOP, on which the court accepted his request and fixed the next hearing of the case on August 29. Earlier, the police had presented an SOP to bars and restaurants to prevent the sale of narcotics and illegal liquor.
It is noteworthy that the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the destruction of opium crops in Khunti and the continuous increase in the trade of drugs like opium, hashish, marijuana etc. in Jharkhand.