K’taka HC fines psychiatrist for filing PIL to open liquor shops

Team Udayavani, Apr 8, 2020, 11:00 AM IST

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High court has directed a psychiatrist, Dr. Vinod G Kulkarni, to donate Rs 10,000 to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for filing a PIL, seeking directions to the state to open wine shops during the lockdown period.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeni and Justice BV Nagarathna, who was hearing the petition through video conference on Tuesday, April 7  directed Dr Vinod G Kulkarni to donate Rs 10,000 to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Kulkarni had filed a petition, seeking opening of liquor shops for at least a few hours, with a limited quantity of liquor on sale. He pointed out that at least 10 people have committed suicide due to the non-availability of liquor.

When the matter was taken up for hearing during a special sitting held through video conference, the bench posed a question to the petitioner: “Do you know how many are starving for food? Is liquor more important than food for survival?”

In reply, the petitioner said that he had filed the petition being a psychiatrist, and had found many people committing suicide because liquor was unavailable. The bench said that those addicted to liquor can be treated for their withdrawal symptoms at a clinic.