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SC orders highway vends, restaurants, pubs, bars not to serve liquor
New Delhi: Giving a sigh of relief to the state liquor associations, the Supreme Court on Friday modified the December 2016 order of banning liquor outlets within 500 meters of state and national highways, ordering that in the areas having less population than 20,000, the distance would be around 220 meters.
The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar passed the amendment.
Liquor association representatives of many states, including Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Haryana pleaded before the court to reduce the distance as 500 meter was too long.
Agreeing with the associations' demand, Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi also said that the 500-metre distance should be reduced. The top court, however, observed that life holds more importance than liquor.
According to the reports, the ban includes retail outlets, bars, pubs and restaurants located on highways. The court included them observing that exempting these establishments would be a dilution of its motive of preventing drunk driving.
The court, however, has said that states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where the excise period extends beyond April 1, the ban on selling liquor on highways will remain ineffective till September 30.
Northeastern states of Sikkim and Meghalaya have been kept away from the no-liquor zone ban because of being 'hilly terrain and forest area'.
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Shobhit Kalra
Writer has 10 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Chief Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.
