The Madras High Court on Friday acceded to a request made on behalf of the State government for early hearing of a case filed against the opening of liquor shops on highways passing through municipal areas. The request was placed citing considerable loss of revenue to the public exchequer due to an undertaking given to the court last year to refrain from opening shops till the case was disposed of.
Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose directed the High Court Registry to list the case filed by advocate K. Balu of Pattali Makkal Katchi for hearing on Tuesday after Advocate General Vijay Narayan insisted on early hearing. Though the latter on Friday contended that the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on establishing liquor shops in highways of municipal areas, the judges were not convinced. Stating that there was ambiguity over the issue, the judges decided to examine the matter in detail on Tuesday. The petitioner had challenged a communication sent by the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise to all Collectors on September 1, asking them to permit liquor shops in municipal areas even if they were close to highways.
