Telangana Dry Day: Sale of Alcohol Banned In Hyderabad & Other Places On This Date

Heads up, folks - your long weekend plans might need a little rethinking. Independence Day is landing on a Friday this year, and like always, liquor shops across the state will go dry on August 15. The good news for tipplers? As of now, there's no official booze ban for Krishna Janmashtami on August 16.

This isn't the first time Hyderabad's seen such restrictions. Back in February, parts of the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate went dry for three days during the Telangana Legislative Council polls. Then in July, certain areas under the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate were declared dry during the Bonalu festival.

But the booze ban isn't the only thing stirring up debate this week. A fresh legal fight has kicked off over the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's (GHMC) order to shut beef shops and slaughterhouses on August 15 and 16, according to a report in Bar and Bench.

Law student Vadla Srikanth has dragged the matter to the Telangana High Court, arguing the GHMC Commissioner doesn't have the statutory powers to force such closures without a valid reason. The petition, filed through advocate Vijay Gopal, calls the decision "arbitrary" and a "colorable exercise of authority" that hurts traders' right to carry on lawful business.

Justice B Vijaysen Reddy has now asked GHMC to explain why the order was passed, with the next hearing set for August 13. Traders, meanwhile, are waiting to see if the Court will give them the green light to keep their doors open during the festive weekend.

So, while the liquor shelves will definitely be off-limits this Independence Day, the fate of meat counters is still hanging in the balance.