HC summons TASMAC MD to appear on March 4

A petition filed by Mahendran of Thanjavur came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and SS Sundar. The petitioner claimed that efforts were on to set up the liquor shop in violation of rules and regulations at the busy area, where schools and temples were being located. As per norms, no school, college or religious site should be in place within 100 meters of any liquor shop. If the liquor shop came into existence at a place near Pallia Agraharam bus stop, common people especially students and devotees would experience hardship as the shop would cause hindrance to them. Hence, the petitioner sought stay on any existence of such TASMAC liquor shop at the busy locality.

On hearing the petition, the bench ordered stay on setting up of such liquor shop near Pallia Agraharam bus stop. The court observed that the ruling party gave assurance in its poll manifesto in 2016 that TASMAC liquor shops would be closed in a phased manner in Tamil Nadu. But, on a contrary to the manifesto, such shops were said to be opened everyday and the bench raised a series of queries, subsequently.

The bench sought the list of existing TASMAC shops in 2016 and how many such shops had been closed till date district wise and on year wise, besides, the current status of such shops in Tamil Nadu and the number of shops to be opened in future. While seeking income from such TASMAC shops since 2016, the bench asked when such shops would be closed down completely. After raising these questions, the bench posted the case to further hearing on March 4.