Notice to NHAI, Cuddalore Collector on liquor shops at NH 45

The Madras High Court today issued notice to National Highways Authority of India, Cuddalore District Collector, Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise and state-run TASMAC on a petition seeking a directive to shut liquor shops on national highway 45 near a six-way road junction at Ramanatham here.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnam before which the petition filed by S Yuvaraj, President of Chennai Aminjikarai Lorry Owners Welfare Association came up, while issuing notice, also directed them to file their replies by July 13.
The petitioner submitted that the Association runs more than 500 lorries and the place mentioned is a major junction where lorry drivers repair vehicles and park them, fill fuel, eat food and also take rest.

He said this junction connects the six-lane road from Tiruchirapalli to Cuddalore and Salem where flow of lorries is enormous. Every day, major accidents take place because of drunken driving by those consuming alcohol from TASMAC shops situated along NH 45.
The petitioner referred to the February 25 order of the Court to relocate or close TASMAC shops on the NH against which TASMAC had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court.
The apex court had also confirmed the order. Even after this, the liquor shops continued in the area, willfully disobeying its orders, according to the petitioner.

Though he also made a representation to the authorities concerned on April 9, 2014, there had been no progress and hence he filed this petition.