Madras HC Declines to Shut Liquor Shops, Says It’s Govt Policy

Filed by an advocate, the petition says that post-Chennai floods relief work was interrupted by drunk people.

Madras High Court. (Photo: The News Minute)

The Madras High Court rejected a plea on Monday to shut Tamil Nadu Government-run retail liquor shops for two months considering the Chennai floods, saying that the decision can only be made by the ruling government.

A Public Interest Litigation petition was filed by advocate Kanimozhi Mathi and was called for hearing by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana on Monday. The court declined the petition saying that this decision lies in the policy domain of the government and will not be entertained, according to The Times of India.

The petitioner said that Chennai has been facing rains and floods since November and during rescue and relief works, she had faced problems with drunk people. She said that they also interrupted the relief work and created fear in the relief workers. Many volunteers even suggested not going to certain areas because of such issues. She added that a woman relief worker was also harassed by these people.

Closing all Tasmac shops in all the flood-affected districts for 60 days will significantly bring down the menace of inebriation, lumpenism and anti-social behaviour.

Kanimozhi Mathi