Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Calling the state government’s decision to close Tasmac outlets located within 500 metres from educational institutions and places of worship a welcome step, a vacation bench of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court refused to stop the closure of 33 outlets in Thoothukudi, Madurai, and Tiruchy districts, and instead directed the Government to consider refunding the licence fee for the non-operating period within three weeks.
Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy gave the direction on a batch of petitions filed by landlords of buildings in which the outlets were operated and the licensees who were permitted to sell snacks, water, and collect liquor bottles in the bars attached to the outlets.
The counsel representing the petitioners argued that the government’s decision was arbitrary, as Rule 8 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003, only prohibits the establishment of liquor outlets within 50 metres from places of worship or educational institutions in municipalities and corporations and 100 metres in other areas. The Government cannot change this existing rule merely through a press release, one of the advocates contended.
