UP govt to add capital punishment in Excise Act for hooch deaths

Lucknow: In a landmark decision against the hooch manufacturers, the Uttar Pradesh government has planned to introduce a new section in the Excise Act which will award death penalty to the illicit liquor makers if its consumption leads to death or permanent disability.

The state cabinet took the decision at a meeting presided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asserted an official release on Wednesday.

The decision is being looked as a step towards tightening the noose on the illicit liquor manufacturers.

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The official release stated that the state government will bring an ordinance to incorporate provisions of life imprisonment and death penalty to the existing law to eradicate the practise of manufacturing of spurious liquor.

It is worth mentioning that the release has clarified that the death penalty will be awarded on the basis on the intensity of the tragedy caused due to hooch.

The state cabinet has decided to amend several sections of the UP Excise Act, 1910 and add a new section 60(A) for incorporating the new provisions.