A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar is scheduled on March 29 to hear a batch of petitions seeking modifications in the court’s December 15, 2016 judgement banning the sale of liquor at outlets located within 500 metres of national and State highways.
The Bench led by Chief Justice Khehar will comprise Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao. Chief Justice Khehar apologised to lawyers for the court's inability to hear the liquor petitions on March 27 as per schedule. The Bench of Justices Chandrachud and Rao could not convene on March 27 because Justice Chandrachud was sitting in a Bench led by Chief Justice Khehar. Lawyers and litigants had waited in vain in the courtroom, but were informed after court hours that the Bench of Justices Chandrachud and Rao would not convene.
Mr. Rohatgi and other lawyers had sought an urgent hearing as the deadline for ban is on April 1, 2017. Among those who have sought a modification is the Tamil Nadu government.
