Case: Sham Lal Etc Vs. Union of India and Others

1. The State of Haryana, like the other States of India, has on its statute book a legislation for liquor regulation and fiscal levy. In fact, it is the same asthe Punjab Excise Act, 1914. To bring in progressive restriction in the sale of alcohol, rule 37 was amended in Haryana making the 1st and the 7th of every month a holiday for liquor shops. This rule and the statutory source of power to make rules, namely, s. 59(f) (v) of the Punjab Excise Act , 1914, have been challenged before us on a variety of grounds and we have heard counsel on both sides.

Reasoning: The arguments being identical with those already considered by us in the Punjab batch of writ petitions that judgment governs these cases also, and therefore we annex it to this judgment and we do not think it necessary to launch on any additional discussion.one cautionary signal we would like to sound. Haryana and Punjab are neighbouring States and unless identical days of teetotalism for the liquor shops are declared in both States, the exercise in prohibition will prove futile, at least in the border districts. If the days are different in the two States, there will be a massive trek of the drinking population from the border districts of one State to the other., thus defeating the statutory purpose. We hope that liquor lobby notwithstanding, the State, will streamline the dry days in both the States.