Chennai: Holding that functioning of State-owned TASMAC retail outlets and bars were the policy decision of the Tamilnadu government, the Madras High Court today said it could not direct closure of liquor shops across the State.
On a plea made by advocate Silambarasan seeking a direction to close down TASMAC liquor shops in the state, a Division Bench comprising Justice M M Sundaresan and Justice R Hemalatha said the court could not intervene in the policy decision of the government.
The Bench also said closure of liquor shops and bars could not be claimed as a matter or right.
However, a petition could be filed seeking closure of illegal bars functioning without licence.
It may be recalled that after a gap of five months TASMAC shops were opened in areas coming under Chennai corporation limits on 18 August.
The shops were closed since 24 March in view of Covid-19 induced pandemic.
As per the Government Order, which also laid down Standard Operation Procedures to be followed, about 650 shops in the city, barring in corona containment zones, were opened by following social distancing norms and the customers wearing face masks.
TASMAC shops were allowed to open on 7 May in areas other than those coming under Chennai Corporation limits, prompting the tipplers to make a beeline to the border areas of the neighbouring districts to get their daily
quota.
It may be noted that ever since the shops were closed after the outbreak of the corona pandemic in the third week of March, tipplers were left high and dry with those selling in blackmarkets making a killing.
Relief came in the form of the government allowing shops to function in the border districts of Chennai from 7 May.
Since then, the sales, especially on Saturdays taking into account the complete lockdown on all Sundays had touched close to Rs 150 crore mark.
Last Saturday, with the shops also open in Chennai, the sales touched Rs 250 crore.
On an average, the Chennai market brings in Rs 12 crore to Rs 15 crore per day to the State exchequer and the average sale per day across the State ranged between Rs 130 crore to Rs 140 crore.
The sales from TASMAC was one of the major revenue earners for the government with the annual sales crossing Rs 30,000 crore.