Following plaints, HC orders closure of Tasmac shop

The vacation bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and PT Asha, before whom a petition from C Suresh of Tambaram Sanatorium came up, ordered interim closure of the shop until a counter is filed by Tasmac authorities.

The petitioner had submitted that following the Supreme Court order directing the closure of liquor shops near National and State highways, the shop was closed in 2017. But after a while, it was reopened and poses severe problems to road users.

Moreover, since 2013, complaints have been filed against the shop as it is located within 100 metres from Arulmigu Sri Varasithi Vinayagar Sagitha Cellamuthu Mariamman Alayam and a church, which is against the prescribed rules. Besides this, the shop is also functioning in an unapproved building and poses a grave nuisance to those working in and around Tambaram Sanatorium, school going children and women who use the narrow road.

Also, those bound to National Institute of Siddha, TB Hospital and other commercial establishments located on GST Road use Station Road after alighting trains.

The constant presence of drunk persons on the road makes it difficult for them, he said. The petitioner also noted that various representations, including one to the Chief Minister on April 01, 2019, failed to evoke any response. He sought the court for a direction to shut the shop.