Let govt decide on dry days till Kancheepuram fest: Madras HC

The petitioner R Sampath had submitted that out of the eleven liquor shops operating there, only two shops have been closed. He made a representation to the Collector, Assistant Commissioner of Excise and Tasmac district manager to temporarily close the remaining shops. But as there was no response, he sought a court direction in this regard.

However, the division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad on cited Rule 12 of the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in shops and bars) Rules, 2003, and the Government Order (GO) on closure of shops during days like Thiruvalluvar Day, Gandhi Jayanthi, Mahavir Jayanthi Day among others, and refused to intervene. “Government alone is empowered to decide as to whether the shops should remain closed,” the bench said, even as it directed the Kancheepuram Collector to decide on the representation on merits and in accordance with law.