No fresh liquor shops will be allowed near highways: TN Govt

Tamil Nadu government today gave an undertaking in the Madras High Court that no fresh liquor shops would be permitted along highways within municipal areas in the state.
The undertaking by the state's Advocate General Vijay Narayan was recorded by a bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar during the hearing of a PIL.
The public interest litigation petition challenged a September 1 order of the state Prohibition and Central Excise Commissioner permitting licensed liquor establishments along highways within the municipal corporation limits.
The AG also submitted that a clarification application was pending before the Supreme Court with regard to its ban on sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways and the state was trying for an early hearing.

He said status quo would be maintained, following which the bench posted the PIL to November 20.
The petitioner, Advocate Forum for Social Justice, contended that the order was issued without denotifying or reclassifying the state highways in municipal areas.
Besides, another related petition was pending before the high court on which authorities were restrained from relocating or opening liquor shops along highways.
Contending that the Prohibition and Excise department's order was against the directives of the Supreme Court and high court, the petitioner wanted it quashed.