By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: With liquor demand on rise even if during lockdown, the Supreme Court on Friday observed that states should consider indirect sale of liquor, either through online or home delivery mechanism to ensure social distancing norms are not violated. After the lockdown was extended till May 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines allowing liquor shops to open.
The top court, however, refused to issue any order in this regard.The observation came from a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Guruswamy Nataraj objecting to across the counter sale of liquor.
The petitioner argued that the government cannot meddle with human life by allowing crowds to gather outside liquor shops.As the government took first steps to relax the Covid-19 lockdown to revive the economy, hundreds queued up at liquor stores in New Delhi and other cities.
Some stores in parts of Delhi had to be closed due to the large number of people gathered there.The Delhi government even imposed a special tax of 70 per cent on retail liquor purchases to deter large gatherings but that did not stop people from coming out and heading towards the liquor shops.
It then introduced a token system which people can buy online. The move is aimed at stopping people from coming out and gather outside liquor shops.The Uttar Pradesh government recently announced an increase in prices of all categories of liquor, including country liquor, to mop up additional revenue of Rs 2,350 crore.
A similar plea has also been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi to start online sale of liquor to ensure social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.The petitioner sought direction to the Delhi government to evolve a proper policy to start the online sale of liquor and deliver it to the consumers’ homes at a time when the entire machinery of the country is tirelessly working to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
Odisha Excise Commissioner had earllier written a letter to State government has sought permission to open bottling plants/breweries/distilleries ‘in advance to cater to the growing needs of liquor consumers’ soon after liquor shops are opened following the lifting of lockdown.
The letter had said the decision was taken to cater the growing needs of liquor consumers soon after the liquor shops are opened following lifting of lockdown. The Excise Commissioner, said the government will reopen 12 bottling plants, 5 breweries and 2 distilleries which were closed since March 23.
The existing stock of different kinds of liquor both in the shops and OSBCL Depots may meet the demand for few days. Besides, in the Breweries, the yeast preparation may be damaged unless utilized early for Beer manufacture, the Commissioner mentioned in the letter.
If permitted, the concerned bottling plants, breweries and distilleries may restrict their manpower to 50%, or as decided by government and enforce social distancing, compulsory use of masks, frequent sanitizing of hands as per Covid-19 guidelines, the Commissioner said.
