States Should Consider Home Delivery of Liquor/Indirect Sale During Lockdown, Observes SC

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul & BR Gavai made this remark while hearing a petition challenging the opening of liquor shops by various state governments. 

Further the bench stated that passing orders on the plea under Article 32 was not feasible and added that States must effectuate social distancing while selling liquor by considering other viable options.

Advocate Sai Deepak appeared for petitioner(s) in a plea filed by Advocate-on-Record Anindita Mitra and submitted that the opening of liquor shops must not meddle with life of “the common man”.

The petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India had been filed in “public interest”, seeking issuance of a writ, order or direction in order to declare the New Covid-19 Guidelines issued by Respondent Union of India, to the extent they permit the sale of alcoholic liquors for human consumption at liquor vends/shops through direct contact sales during the lockdown period, “as unconstitutional, null and void”.

By Priyanka of SPPU