TASMAC authorities have issued a notice for the removal of a portion of a bar attached to an IMFL outlet in Anna Nagar.
The action followed a Madras High Court order on a petition by K. Balu, an advocate.
The advocate submitted that as per the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, every bar should be housed in a permanent building.
The bar room should be sufficiently covered so consumption of liquor is not visible from outside.
A portion of the bar in the Anna Nagar outlet was visible from the top floors of nearby buildings, the petitioner said.
The court directed the district manager of TASMAC to personally inspect the liquor shop and close it if the rule relating to bars had not been complied with.
Inspection conductedAccordingly, N. Vijayashanmugam, district manager, Chennai Central district, inspected the shop, located on New Avadi Road, on May 20.
In his report, he said the airconditioned bar was located in a concrete roof building which was not visible from outside.
A portion of the bar area, however, was visible from the first and second floors of nearby buildings. Hence the notice had been issued.
In case the bar licensee did not remove the visible portion, steps would be taken to cancel the bar’s eatables and empty bottle collection licence, by giving a 15-day notice.
The liquor shop alone will then continue to function.
