SC orders closure of liquor shops along all highways
Posted on: 16/Dec/2016 12:31:07 PM
The Supreme Court has banned all the liquor shops located in the Highways throughout the country. The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, however, said that they can operate till March 31, 2017. No renewal of their licenses would be made thereafter.
The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction sine the central government did not take the requisite action with regard to this.
The liquor shops in national and states pave way for accidents in large numbers. Social activists say that because of these liquor shops accidents are increasing in large numbers every year.
Several pleas have been filed seeking a direction to amend excise laws to ensure that no liquor is sold alongside highways. Earlier, the court had sought a response from the Centre, states and Union territories on the pleas seeking a direction to amend excise laws to ensure that no liquor is sold alongside highways.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and the bench also comprising Justices D.Y Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao said: Look at the number of licenses you have given. Because the liquor lobby is so powerful, everyone is happy. The excise department is happy, the excise minister is happy and the state government is also happy that they are making money. Nearly 1.5 lakh people were dying every year. If a person dies due to this, you give Rs one or 1.5 lakh. That is it. More accidents take place because liquor shops are opened for the sake of revenue. Revenue generation cannot be a valid reason for a state or a Union territory to give licence for liquor shops on highways and the authorities should adopt a positive attitude to remove the menace.
The bench had also rapped the Centre for not doing anything concrete for the last 10 years forcing the court to step in.
