Liquor shops will have to obey Supreme Court order: Minister

Law Minister T B Jayachandra on Friday said liquor outlets situated within 500 metres from national highways (NHs) that pass through Bengaluru and other parts of the state will have to obey the Supreme Court order and relocate.

In an affidavit before the Karnataka High Court on Thursday, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said that it is not in a position to consider the state government’s proposal for denotification of NHs.

“The Centre has made its submission before the high court and we cannot do anything about it. Liquor shops near NHs will have to relocate,” Jayachandra told reporters in Bengaluru.

He said many as 3,560 liquor shops across the state, including 720 in Bengaluru city will have to relocate. He said the move will have major ramifications on the state’s excise collections. The affidavit stated that the Supreme Court had neither reviewed or modified its verdict of banning liquor shops within 500 metres from the outer edge of NHs or state highways or service roads.

The state government, in its proposal to the Centre, had sought denotification of 147 stretches of the 609.65-km national highway network in the state.

He said Governor Vajubhai Vala has not sought any clarification regarding an ordinance sent to Raj Bhavan to circumvent a recent SC order striking down the consequential seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees. Jayachandra expressed confidence that the Governor will promulgate the ordinance soon.