GIFT City liquor exemption challenged

A PIL was filed in the Gujarat High Court to challenge the state government’s decision to relax liquor prohibition laws at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gujarat. PIL has pleaded for the cancellation of the notification granting the relaxation in prohibition to GIFT City. The petitioner has argued that allowing this relaxation is very serious.

Petitioner has sought revocation of the notification issued by the Director of Narcotics and Excise on 22nd December 2023, by which exemptions to the Gujarat Prohibition Act have been granted to employees and visitors at GIFT City.

The PIL argued that the government's decision to relax prohibition laws in GIFT City is intended at benefiting the wealthy and influential people. Additionally, it states that if the government is really interested in the betterment of commoners and backward people, it should relax these laws in tribal areas, where mahua trees are grown.