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CHENNAI: In a shame for him Tamil Nadu government the Madras High Court on Friday ordered the closure of Tasmac liquor stores in the state as of emergency shutdown However, the court allowed online sales and home delivery modes.
A special bank in the division of Judge Vineet Kothari and Judge Pushpa Sathyanarayana approved the provisional order in view of the flagrant violation of the conditions imposed by the court to allow the reopening of Tasmac stores as of May 7.
The court approved the order in a batch of appeals filed by various petitioners, including actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, alleging violation of all conditions imposed by the court, particularly the strict implementation of social distancing in such stores.
On May 4, the Tamil Nadu government approved an order (GO) announcing that Tasmac liquor stores would reopen on May 7. The stores would operate between 10am and 5pm. The order added that strict social distancing rules would be implemented and that additional staff would be assigned to each store to control the crowd.
A special bank in the division of Judge Vineet Kothari and Judge Pushpa Sathyanarayana approved the provisional order in view of the flagrant violation of the conditions imposed by the court to allow the reopening of Tasmac stores as of May 7.
The court approved the order in a batch of appeals filed by various petitioners, including actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, alleging violation of all conditions imposed by the court, particularly the strict implementation of social distancing in such stores.
On May 4, the Tamil Nadu government approved an order (GO) announcing that Tasmac liquor stores would reopen on May 7. The stores would operate between 10am and 5pm. The order added that strict social distancing rules would be implemented and that additional staff would be assigned to each store to control the crowd.
Tipplers waiting to buy liquor near Chennai on Thursday (Photo from B A Raju)
Aggrieved, the petitioners, including the lawyers, approached the court in defiance of the GO. On May 6, the court refused to suspend the reopening, but imposed a number of conditions to allow liquor sales during the shutdown.
The court also ordered the government to implement rationing by allowing a person to buy only one bottle of liquor (750 ml) per day if the payment is made in cash.
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