Interim stay on opening liquor shop

Madurai: Madras high court has granted an interim injunction restraining the authorities from setting up a Tasmac liquor shop at Morupatti village in Trichy district on a petition in this regard. A division bench of Justices R Suresh Kumar and R Vijayakumar said petitioner Rathinavel and other villagers objected to it as a temple is situated close by.The proposed liquor shop would cause hardship to the people and also create law and order issues.
The judges said the people had represented to the authorities in September 2021 and the district administration subsequently clarified that there is no such proposal. However, the district collector by an order dated April 1, 2022, accepted the report submitted by Tasmac authorities and directed to establish a Tasmac shop at the village.
After the amendment made to Rule 8 of Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003, under the heading ‘location of shop’, if any objection comes from the public with regard to the location of the retail vending Tasmac shop, the same shall be objectively considered by the collector concerned after giving an opportunity of hearing to them, said the judges.