Highway liquor ban not applicable to muncipal areas, says SC
The court order is based on a special leave petition filed by Arrive Safe Society, an NGO, challenging a notification issued by the Chandigarh administration on March 16, 2017.
The nation wide liquor ban on national and state highways will not be applicable to municipal areas, the Supreme Court has clarified. The SC had recently banned the sale of liquor, 500 metres away from national and state highways.
The SC clarified that the order would not be applicable to licensed establishments within the municipal areas.
The court explained that the December 15, 2016 ban on liquor sale only extends along and in proximity to highways which provide connectivity between cities, towns and villages. "The purpose of the directions contained in the order dated December 15, 2016 is to deal with the sale of liquor along and in proximity of highways properly understood, which provide connectivity between cities, towns and villages. The order does not prohibit licensed establishments within municipal areas. This clarification shall govern other municipal areas as well. We have considered it appropriate to issue this clarification to set at rest any ambiguity and to obviate repeated recourse to IAs [interlocutory applications], before the court,' the SC also clarified.
The court order is based on a special leave petition filed by Arrive Safe Society, an NGO, challenging a notification issued by the Chandigarh administration on March 16, 2017 - post the Supreme Court's ban order on December 15, 2016 - declaring three stretches of State highways as "major district roads".
OneIndia News