Wherever resolutions have been passed by gram sabhas against the opening or relocation of State-run liquor shops in villages or town or any local body or in its vicinity, shops should not be relocated or opened there, the Madras High Court has observed.
While hearing a batch of petitions on Monday, a Bench comprising Justices N. Kirubakaran and V. Parthiban also restrained authorities from relocating or opening of TASMAC shops in residential areas.
“If there is any agitation with regard to the opening or relocating TASMAC shops, the respondents shall not arrest or take action against the agitators provided they demonstrate peacefully, without causing inconvenience to the public,” they said.
Petitioners T. Vignesh of Tirupur district and 10 others, in their plea sought a direction to prohibit the authorities from relocating liquor shops that were closed as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
During the hearing of the case, the petitioners contended that the shops were sought to be relocated near temples, schools, factories and even in residential areas, in spite of objections raised by the public and hence there were dharnas and agitations in various places.
They also alleged that the police were interested in giving protection only to officials to open or relocate shops and those staging protest were attacked.
Additional Advocate General K. Venkatramani submitted that the police were taking action only against those indulging in violence and disturbed the peace and public order.
More women protesters
After hearing both sides, the Bench observed that it was evident from media reports and the number of cases filed before the High Court that it was mostly women who were staging the agitation against liquor shops, as they are the ones who are often the victims of liquor addiction, and held that the authorities should manage the situation with sensitivity.
