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A Public Interest Litigation plea has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking prohibition/ control on production, distribution, and consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health including liquor in order to secure the right to health.

The plea filed by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay states that "State government in last seven years has made Delhi as Liquor Capital of India, rather than taking steps to prohibit or control it."

The plea also reads that the State is under a massive debt of around twenty thousand crores and since the ruling political party promised freebies before an election and therefore to sustain financial crisis, it is giving licenses to open liquor shops not only in the residential areas and main markets but also near hospitals, schools, and temples under the garb of providing easy access to liquor shops.

Through this PIL, Upadhyay has further sought a direction to the Delhi Government to carry out 'Health Impact Assessment' and 'Environment Impact Assessment' of production distribution & consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs.

In addition to this, Upadhyay has demanded that on Liquor Bottles and Packages, 'Health Warning' should be published, alike the warning sign used on Cigarette packets. "Advertise 'Health and Environment Hazard' of intoxicating drinks through electronic, print and social media," he further insists.

As per the plea, under the New Liquor Policy, the State government is planning to drastically increase the number of liquor shops and it would be around three liquor shops in every municipal ward.

Whereas earlier until 2015, there were only 250 liquor shops i.e. on average, one liquor shop in every municipal ward and 30 wards without a single liquor shop, the plea submitted, the plea adds.

Case Title: Ashwini Upadhyay Vs. Union of India & Ors.