When the matter came up before the vacation bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan, the court directed the District Collector to dispose of the representation within eight weeks.

The bench further directed that, until the petitioner’s objection is disposed of, the shop in question shall not be opened. The PIL was filed by S Madesh, a resident of Vedaranyam taluk in Nagapattinam, before the Madras High Court.

In the petition, Madesh stated that the residents of Arasaladi Street and the surrounding areas in Tiruthuraipoondi Town would be seriously affected by the proposed establishment of a Tasmac liquor retail shop. He further submitted that Arasaladi Street was a densely populated residential locality where several families have been residing peacefully for many years. “The locality consists of numerous houses where women, elderly persons, and children live in a safe and peaceful environment, in which officials are taking steps to establish a Tasmac liquor retail shop in residential locality. A building is presently being constructed for this purpose,” he argued.

He submitted that if the Tasmac outlet was permitted to begin operations in the locality, it would cause serious disturbance and nuisance to the residents, particularly women, elderly persons, and children residing in the area. “The proposed Tasmac shop is situated in close proximity to the Arulmigu Arupadaiyappan Temple, and also to several educational institutions, including government and private schools, where a large number of students are studying, which would create nuisance and disturb the peaceful religious environment,” he added.

The petitioner sought a direction to the District Collector to consider the representation submitted on April 18 and take appropriate action to prevent the establishment of the TASMAC shop in order to safeguard public welfare, particularly the safety of school children and residents of the locality.