Liquor purchase allowed twice a week with a gap of 3 days, Bill should record Aadhaar: Madras HC guidelines for liquor sale amid COVID-19:
Case title: B Ramkumar Adityan versus Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu and ors.
CORAM: THE HON’BLE DR.JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI
AND THE HON’BLE MRS.JUSTICE PUSHPASATHYANARAYANA
Writ Petition No.7578 of 2020
This petition has been filed by B.Ramkumar Adtyan, seeking a ban on the sale of liquor, which is intended to be done by the State of Tamil Nadu through re-opening of TASMAC shops from tomorrow 07.05.2020, during the lockdown period amid COVID-19 situation. And filed by B.Ramkumar Adityan plead We are of the opinion that we cannot totally prohibit “The re-opening of the TASMAC shops for sale of Liquors, including Beer, Wine etc. in the State.”May 4 similer plea already dismissed by court. For the balance of economic and management. The court order to issue certain additional directions towards sale of alcohol in Tamilnadu, adding the precautionary guidelines already issued but government notification is the regarding.
The madras highcourt bench of justice vineet kothari and pushpa sathyanaranana issued by additional directions:
Limits on alcohol purchase at a time:
1. The prohibition on bulk sales, the Court has said that “not more than two bottles of 750 ml each (including wine, beer etc.) of any one type will be sold to one customer at a time.”
2. The cash payments is online mode may purchase two bottles a day.
3.without mobile/smart phones or online payment apps can purchase only one bottle a day.
4. The customer cannot make purchase of liquor more than twice a week and with a minimum gap of three days.
5. Shop Personnel must wear triple layer masks and sanitize their hands at the periodic intervals while working.
6.Only medically fit persons, without any co-morbid conditions and below
55years of age should be called for work.
7.The shops should be sanitized by using user friendly disinfectant liquid at least five times during the working hours.
8. Not more than 5 persons to be allowed in the shop at the same time.
9.Minimum two personnel per shop should stand outside of the shop to regulate the customers for ensuring the social distance.
10. No customers are drinking liquor in the public places.
11. The Bars attached to the Retail Vending shops is not permitted to function.
12.Token system to be followed for regulating crowds.
13 Public address system should be hired by the District managers for all shops where more crowds are expected especially in urban areas.
14 No token should be given after 4 pm and shops should compulsorily be closed at 5pm.
15 District mangers may temporarily hire additional staff through outsourcing agency to ensure that above instructions are followed and for proper crowd control.”
16. shop timings being limited to 10 am-5 pm.
Any pleas similer issue directed to placed before the bench on the next hearing.
The matter has been postponed that hearing taken up again may 14.
Senior advocate R vaigai and Advocates k.Balu, y kavitha and k Balan haridas appeared for the petitioners in related writ petition.
Advocate Anirudh appeared foe an applicant company that opposed favoring the online sale alcohol.
The petitioner, B Ramkumar Adityan, appeared party-in-person. Advocate General Vijay Narayanan and Additional Advocate General SR Rajagopal, assisted by Government Pleader V Jayaprakash Narayanan appeared for various State authorities. TASMAC was represented by Advocate Sathish.
By Muskan Chauhan of Law College Dehradun.
