Gujarat Governor S C Jamir has given his assent to the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, which had seen a confrontation between the Centre and State governments, even as he referred to the Union Government another legislation brought in after the hooch tragedy in the state.

State Home Minister, Amit Shah, told The Indian Express that the Governor had forwarded the bill to the Centre without any changes from what was endorsed by the Gujarat Assembly.

The Governor has approved GUJCOC and the Disturbed Areas Act (Amendment) bill, which were passed by the Assembly in the last session. The bills were also sent for Presidential nod to the Central Government, official sources said today.

He, however, returned the bill amending the Bombay Prohibition Act, which was also passed in the last session, to the Central Government.

The bill was amended proposing death penalty and life imprisonment for those found guilty of manufacturing, selling and supply of Guv okays GUJCOC bill hooch or spurious liquor which results in death.

It was introduced by the BJP government following a hooch tragedy which had claimed over 130 lives in the city in July.

"The Governor has approved two bills, GUJCOC and Disturbed Areas (Amendment) Act while amendment bill in Prohibition Act has been sent back to the Central government for reconsideration," a senior official in the state government said.

Amendment in the Disturbed Areas Act was enacted to check illegal transfer of properties in the communally sensitive areas officially described as "disturbed areas" in Ahmedabad city.

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