Hyderabad: In a rare judgment, First Additional Junior Civil Judge of Gadwal, D. Uday Naik, ordered two men caught drinking on the roadside to perform social service instead of serving jail time.
Police caught the two residents of Gadwal while they were consuming liquor in public. Officers then brought them before the court. The judge rejected judicial custody and imposed an unusual punishment. He directed them to stand for one hour at the District Government Hospital junction, holding placards with awareness messages.
Gadwal court social service punishment sends public message
Traffic sub-inspector Balachandru monitored the implementation of the court’s order. The placards carried by the offenders urged people to avoid alcohol consumption and warned against driving in an intoxicated state.
This marked the first time a court in Jogulamba Gadwal district imposed social service as punishment for such an offence. Motorcyclists and pedestrians at the hospital junction stopped to watch. For many, the scene served as a public lesson against drinking in public places.
