Don't open liquor shops if villagers oppose: HC

The Madras High Court bench here today directed Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) to drop its proposal to open a liquor shop at Vadamalapuram village in Virudhunagar district in the wake of opposition from locals.
A Division Bench of Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice P.Devadoss, while allowing a petition on the issue, said the authorities should respect the opposition and the sentiments of villagers.
The bench said "if the people of a village unanimously opposed setting up liquor shop, then the liquor shop should not be established in that village or area".
"The democratically-elected government should respect the wish of the people. Unlike in the case of hospitals and schools, the people have got a right to express their views regarding establishment of liquor shops. If the officials did not consider the wish of the people, then the court is bound to exercise its jurisdiction", the judges cautioned.

T.Paul Raj, a resident of Vadamalapuram village, had submitted the village did not have any liquor shop so far.
Even after the village panchayat passed a resolution against opening of the liquor shop and villagers undertaking a signature campaign besides petitioning the Collector, the officials were going ahead with their plan, Raj contended.