The Uttarakhand High Court has given the state government six months to formulate a policy to implement provisions of the Excise Act which provide for prohibition of alcohol in the state. A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma directed the state government on Thursday to take a policy decision for gradual prohibition of alcohol, petitioner DK Joshi, an advocate said.

The high court has given six months to the state government, he said. Besides asking the state government to ensure compliance of section 37 A of the Excise Act which provides for prohibition, the court also ordered strict compliance of the law prohibiting sale of alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. The order came on a PIL filed by Joshi, an advocate and a resident of Garuda in Bageshwar district. It was contended in the PIL that liquor sold under government protection is affecting lives in the state.