New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday asked all the stake-holders to sit and decided on a "reasonable policy" on the location of liquor shops along the national and the state highways as it said that it did not favour people drinking travelling long distances.
"It is a social issue. We don't want anybody should lose. All should sit together and have a reasonable policy. We don't want people to drink while travelling," said a bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice S.A. Bobde.
Describing it as a "social issue" and presence of liquor vends on highway as an "allurement" for long distance travellers but at the same time, not wanting anyone including traders and the state to lose on its revenues, the court asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi facilitate a meeting of all stake holders to arrive at a "reasonable policy".
"Make a reasonable suggestion that is good for all. Remove it from the highways and take it at an appropriate place," the court told all the contesting parties.
Senior counsel K.K.Venugopal, appearing for one of the respondent states, challenged the central government's circular restricting liquor vends on the highways saying that it involved the constitutional issues as tax and excise are within the exclusive competence of the state legislature.
"If it is valid for national highways then it is very much valid for State highways," the court said as Tamil Nadu challenging the validity of the circular said that the central government had issued circular in respect of national highways and not for the state highways.
"You think and say (decide on reasonable police on location of liquor vends vis-a-vis highways) and we will affirm it," the court said as Venugopal said that exercise would take a long time to conclude.
As court asked Rohatgi to take initiative and convene a meeting for hammering a reasonable policy, it directed the next hearing of the matter on Feb 17.
The road safety cell of the union transport and highways ministry had issued a circular restricting the grant of licences for liquor vends on highways.
Cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma's married life has soured. Both are parting ways.
Despite no big stars and no major promotions, Mohit Suri's romantic musical drama Saiyaara is cre
Vicky Kaushal became an actor from an engineer, read some unheard things on his birthday
New Delhi: Vicky Kaushal, who impressed everyone with his acting in Bollywood, is celebrating his
Delhi Politics: Arvind Kejriwal to present trust vote in Delhi Assembly today
The trust vote will be tabled in the House by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday in a two-d
There is a steady decrease in the cases of Coronavirus in India. This is the third consecutive da
Chinese President Xi Jinping can reach Saudi Arabia on Thursday. According to the news agency ANI
Hopeful of UP Uttarakhand Disputes Resolution: Harish Rawat
Lucknow, Jan 20 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat Tuesday expressed hope that the
Rajya Sabha Elections 2022: Today is the last date for filing nomination papers for two Rajya Sab
Due to uncontrolled corona infection in Unlock-2 in Chhattisgarh, once again reached the state of
Government braces up for tough budget session, 44 items on agenda
New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) The government is bracing up for budget session beginning Monday where
