The Madras High Court has asked the authorities not to open TASMAC outlets in residential areas and also informed the police not to arrest people who are carrying out peaceful protests against TASMAC shops.
This comes after petitions were filed in the Madras High Court asking to prohibit the authorities from relocating liquor shops which have been closed after the Supreme Court’s order.
The bench comprising Justice N Kirubhakaran and Justice V Pathiban, said that the authorities are restrained to open or relocate TASMAC shops in residential areas, as per a Times of India report.
Moreover, wherever there is a gram sabha resolution that authorities should not open or relocate TASMAC shops in villages or any local body, they should not do so.
There have been repeated agitations across the state against TASMAC outlets and the police have booked many people for indulging in violence.
Highlighting this issue, the bench asked the police not to arrest or take action against any protesters if they indulge in peaceful agitations.
The court added that considering the media reports and petitions, it is evident that many women are part of the agitations against liquor outlets as they are most affected by liquor. So, the authorities should manage the situation with sensitivity and they should also give importance to people’s feelings.
The News Minute had reported last month that over 100 residents of Lakshmipuram in Tiruvallur district had protested against a TASMAC shop. Two days after the Supreme Court ban, this particular shop had become a hotspot for tipplers from Ponneri town which is 3km away.
On March 31, the Supreme Court had banned the sale of liquor within a 500m radius of state and national highways.