The Supreme Court Thursday ordered closure of all liquor shops along national and state highways in the country.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur directed the Central and state governments to “cease and desist” from issuing liquor licenses and said that no new license for a vend along highways shall be granted henceforth.
The bench set a deadline of April 1, 2017 for expiry of all existing licenses and directed the authorities to ensure strict compliance with its order.
Further, the court added that no liquor shops should even be visible from highways and no such ship should be allowed at least within a radius of 500 metres.
It asked chief secretaries of the state governments and police chiefs to chalk out a plan after deliberating with excise and municipal authorities to make sure all orders are implemented.
The court highlighted the significance of road safety and menace of drunken driving while issuing the slew of directives on a bunch of matters arising from different high courts over grant of licenses for liquor shops along the highways. (Agencies)