New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled the states power to make laws on industrial alcohol cant be taken away, overturning its previous order on the same, media reports said.
The judgement was passed by a massive majority of 8:1.
The bench, which was led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, had a dissenting voice with Justice B V Nagarathna speaking against the ruling of eight other judges.
The majority of the eight judges ruled that the meaning of intoxicating liquor is beyond the definition of alcoholic beverages, The Indian Express reported.
The central government lacks the regulatory power when it comes to the production, the top court said.
Justice Nagarathna, the only dissenting voice, said industrial alcohol means alcohol which is not fit for human consumption so a different meaning to the term cant be given going against the goal of the makers of the Constitution.
In 1990, the Supreme Court had ruled the state cannot impose tax on industrial alcohol which only means potable alcohol.
