The Supreme Court’s order to shut down liquor shops situated within in 500 metres periphery of State as well as National Highway resulted in closure of nearly 25 per cent licensed liquor shops in dry Gujarat !!!
Official sources in the State prohibition department said that there were 52 licensed shops in the State but post SC order, 12 shops had been slapped closure notices to shut their shops with immediate effect. Confirming the development B Kumar, director of prohibition said that the notices were issued to 12 shop owners in lines with the SC order and the prohibition department would ensure their closure. legal action would be taken against those who would violate the apex court’s order, he added.
Immediately after the SC order, the State prohibition department in coordination with road and building department’s staff carried out an exercise to verify distances of the liquor outlets from state as well as National Highways, he said, adding that post the exercise the officials found 12 liquor shops within the distance of 500 meters, hence they have been asked to shut shops with immediate effect.
Of the 12 permitted liquor shops in the biggest city of Gujarat, Ahmedabad three have been closed down following notices of the state prohibition department. In Surat five such shops were already closed down. Two each in Rajkot and Vadodara have been asked to shut down the shops.
Generally in Gujarat licensed liquor shops are situated inside the hotels. Hence, the Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association – Gujarat came into picture and decided to approach the apex court against the closure notice of the State prohibition department. According to them unlike in most other States, liquor is not being served to anybody.
liquor is being sold through the permit shops either to the permit holders (giver only under health ground) or visitors’ permit (given to those who travel to the State from other parts of the globe), said Narendra Somani, president of the association, adding that in such scenario, legal permit shops shouldn’t fall under the Supreme Court order. Somani further said that prohibition was already implemented in the State and the permit holders too are not allowed to consume liquor outdoor.