• Thursday, March 28, 2024

News

India’s top court asks states to consider home delivery of liquor

FILE PHOTO: A police officer asks people waiting to buy alcohol to leave after a liquor shop did not open as the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in New Delhi. (Photo by SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

By: PramodKumar

INDIA’s Supreme Court on Friday (8) asked states to consider online sales and home delivery of liquor during the lockdown to prevent crowding at the shops.

“We are not inclined to entertain this petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. The petition is dismissed. However, it shall be open for the concerned State Government to consider non-direct sale including on-line sale/home delivery of liquor to facilitate social distancing,” said a Supreme Court bench while dismissing a plea challenging the guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs on May 1, allowing sales of liquor through shops.

The petitioner argued that there are 70,000 liquor vends across the country and over 50 million people have till now purchased liquor from these shops.   He said that due to social distancing norms not being followed at the liquor vends and shops, there has been rise in Covid-19 cases.

He said that the results of the over a month-long nationwide lockdown will be nullified due to the opening of liquor shops. The bench said that discussion is already going on for allowing online sale of liquor or its home delivery.

The bench then directed the state to consider online sales or home delivery of liquor during the lockdown period and disposed of the matter.

“The health and safety of all persons who gather at and around the liquor shops, the personnel at the shop, the police officials who have to be deployed and intervene, passers-by and the public at large is being endangered and jeopardised, increasing the scope for further transmission of COVID-19 among the population” the petition said.

As per the new guidelines, sale of liquor, paan, tobacco was allowed after ensuring minimum six-feet social distancing; not over five persons at one time at shop. These shops should not be located in markets and malls in urban areas.

Related Stories