The Delhi Government has asked schools in the national Capital to submit a list of liquor shops near their premises and assured of action if the schools have objection to the operation of the booze shops in the vicinity.
The development comes amid increased concerns over the safety of students on school premises after the murder of a seven-year-old student in Gurugram's Ryan International School and rape of a five-year-old girl at Tagore Public School in Shahdara.
"Have asked schools to furnish information about liquor shops polluting the atmosphere in their (schools') vicinity. Such shops will be shut, even if they are in compliance with the rules, if they are polluting the atmosphere near schools," Deputy CM and Education Minister Manish Sisodia said in two tweets posted in Hindi.
A senior Directorate of Education official said that according to rules, there should be no liquor shop within the radius of 100 metres of schools.
Action will be taken against liquor shops running in the vicinity of schools in violation of the rule, he said.
"If a school has any objection with a liquor shop which is located beyond 100 metres from it, government will shift such shops to other place," the official said. A liquor shop was found operating near the Gurugram school where the brutal killing of the student took place on September 8.