{"id":229180,"date":"2020-05-07T14:19:43","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T08:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=229180"},"modified":"2020-05-15T10:29:27","modified_gmt":"2020-05-15T04:59:27","slug":"madras-hc-payment-for-purchase-of-liquor-should-be-made-through-approved-e-payment-applications-purchase-of-liquor-allowed-twice-in-a-week-read-directions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/05\/07\/madras-hc-payment-for-purchase-of-liquor-should-be-made-through-approved-e-payment-applications-purchase-of-liquor-allowed-twice-in-a-week-read-directions\/","title":{"rendered":"Madras HC | Payment for purchase of liquor should be made through approved E-payment applications; Purchase of liquor allowed twice in a week [Read Directions]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Madras High Court:\u00a0<\/strong>A Division Bench of Dr Vineet Kothari and Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JJ., while addressing a petition laid down certain directions with regard to re-opening of liquor shops in the State and also stated that it cannot interfere with in the prohibition of re-opening of the same as prayed by the petitioner.<\/p>\n

Present petition sought ban on the sale of liquor during lockdown period amid COVID-19 situation by challenging the Press Note 311 dated 04-05-2020.<\/p>\n

Petitioners counsel sought for total prohibition of the sale of liquor on the State or at least deferment of opening of TASMAC shops up to 17.05.2020 or up to the period the Centre extends the lockdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the petitioners, re-opening of liquor shops would throw the norms of social distancing or physical distancing as is desired and mandated in these times of Coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n

Advocate General submitted that the policy decision of the State Government to restart the sale of liquor through TASMAC shops, is a rational and economically viable decision and <\/span>being a policy matter, it should not be interfered with by the Court.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Since the Central Government through their Notifications on 1st May 2020 have permitted the economic activity with some restrictions, which have been adopted and followed by the State Government in their orders, there is no justification to either prohibit the sale of liquor completely or defer the same even up to 17th May.<\/p>\n

Further he added that, not only the social distancing will be maintained by physical distance of six feet between the customers by laying down the barricades at the TASMAC shops, but also by allotting different time slots for the people depending upon their age as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Advocate General further submitted that the health safety measures of wearing mask, maintaining physical distance of six feet etc. will also be ensured by the Police personnel employed for this purpose.<\/p>\n

Bench passed the following interim order in the above view:<\/p>\n