Tell steps to stop minors boozing at Sunburn: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked the state government about the steps it has taken to restrict minors from drinking alcohol and smoking during the upcoming Sunburn festival at Oxford Golf Course, Bavdhan, Pune. The court also asked the state to ensure that before granting any permission, all the taxes and duties are paid by the organisers.

A division bench of Justice Shantanu Khemkar and Justice Rajesh Ketkar was hearing a PIL filed by Ratan Luth, a Pune district resident. The PIL stated that the musical concert was going to be held between December 28 and 31 and spectators between the ages of 15 and 21 years would be in attendance. Therefore, the plea said, organisers should be restrained from making alcohol and cigarettes available during the event. The petitioner also showed news articles where minors were allowed to drink liquor on earlier occasions.

The organiser’s lawyer, Sharan Jagtiani, argued before the court that it had applied for a licence with the excise department so that liquor could be served during the concert. He also brought to the notice of the court that the organiser had obtained a general permission from the state government to organise the concert and almost 7,500 tickets had been sold via the online ticket portal BookMyShow. Instructions are also displayed on the portal, stating that liquor will not be served to spectators whose age is less than 21 years, he said. Mr Jagtiani informed the court that around three lakh spectators are expected to be attending the event. Red, yellow and green bands will be tied on the wrists of different age group spectator so they can be easily recognised, he said. Subsequently, he said it was not proper to restrict persons who are eligible to drink liquor.

Meanwhile, the petitioner’s lawyer informed the court that since the last eight years, the program had been held in Goa but due to non-payment of local taxes and security charges, Goa government had refused permission to them.

The court obeserved that the state “should see all the dues must be recovered so that the Goa experience will not be repeated here”, asked the government as well as organisers to file an affidavit in court and kept the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

Past controversies

• Two years ago, a minor girl died due to drug overdose in Goa
• Hindu organisations at Moshi village, Pune had opposed the festival.
• In January 2017, the BMC and Mumbai police refused permission for the festival to be held at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Organisers also did not pay '10 lakh to the BMC.
• Last year, permission to serve liquor was obtained on the last day.