The Himachal Pradesh High Court has asked the state government to put an end to the menace of drunken driving in the state, especially on highways.<\/p>\n
A division bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay Karol has made it clear that drunken driving is unacceptable, according to a judgment provided to the media Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“We ourselves have noticed that while driving from Kalka towards Solan on the (Chandigarh-Shimla) national highway, especially on holidays, tourists can be seen standing on the roadside consuming liquor,” said the judgment delivered October 14.<\/p>\n
“This practice must be stopped,” it added.<\/p>\n
The court also directed making of endorsement on driving licences for violation of the rules.<\/p>\n
“All concerned should ensure that whenever a person is ‘challaned’ (fined) an endorsement is made on the driving licence and appropriate database is maintained to ensure that repeat offenders can easily be traced,” it said.<\/p>\n
The judges also directed making available at least 20 alcohol-detection analysers each at Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Solan and Kullu districts, and 10 each in the remaining districts.<\/p>\n
Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Solan and Kullu districts are known for popular tourist resorts.<\/p>\n
Five youths belonging to high-profile families of Punjab were arrested in August for assaulting people under the influence of liquor in Dharampur town in Solan district.<\/p>\n
Among those arrested is a brother of a legislator of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), while one is son of a former information commissioner of Punjab and a serving officer with the electricity department, police said.<\/p>\n
The Himachal Pradesh assembly in April passed a bill – the Criminal Law (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2011 – that made drunken driving a criminal offence.<\/p>\n
According to a report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), drunken driving is a major factor in road accidents. “Almost 99 percent of the accidents that occur outside cities are due to drunken driving and there is no check on this.” it said.<\/p>\n
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