Liqour shops:'Take note of representations by CM, former CM'

Madras High Court has directed authorities in Puducherry to note representations by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy while he was MP in 1996, former CM V Vaithilingam as opposition leader in 1996 and MOH Farook, Lok Sabha MP that year, to the Lt Governor, on not locating liquor shops in Kalapet revenue village and pass appropriate orders.
The division bench, comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and M Sundar stated this while disposing of a petition from Kanagachettikulam Makkal Pondunala Eyakkam,seeking a direction to the Puducherry government not to issue new licenses or transfer/shift IMFL to open liquor shops anywhere at Kalapet Revenue Village and Ganapathichettikulam village in the interest of students, parents and the general public.

The petitioner submitted that the village is situated along the busy East Coast Road leading to Puducherry. The Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science was in this village, apart from many educational institutions and a lot of temples in the hamlet, he said.
Pointing out that there are already two liquor shops in the hamlet,the petitioner said the authorities,under the guise of relocating the liquor shops after the Supreme Court ban on sale of liquor within 500 metres of highways came into force on April 1, intended to open more shops. He brought to the court's notice the representations by the three dignitaries.

The bench noted that Narayanaswamy as Lok Sabha MP had sent a representation on December 1 1996 to the Lt Governor, referring to the presence of the educational institutions and requesting for appropriate action not to locate any additional liquor shops in the village.
V Vaithilingam, a former Chief Minister, as leader of the Opposition, had also sent a similar representation on December 20, 1996 to the Lt Governor, as did M O H Farook, Lok Sabha MP on December 24 1996, with the same request, the bench added.

It said the Government Pleader had submitted that since the Excise department was the second largest revenue earner to the exchequer and on account of the Apex Court order, the government was under compulsion to re-locate the shops and had no other option except to carry out the exercise, which would done as per Rule 113 (2) of the Puducherry Excise Rules.

The authorities while doing so should take note of the representations and location of the educational institutes in the village and pass appropriate orders and appropriate steps.
The authorities shall also take note of the public sentiments before taking any decision, the bench added.