Madurai: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court, on Monday came down on the government while hearing a plea seeking the court's intervention in removing a Tasmac liquor shop situated near a girls' school in Kollankode in Kanyakumari district.
A Russel Raj of Talakkanvilai has filed a public interest litigation petition contending that the Tasmac shop was set up within 50 metres from the Sridevi Girls Higher Secondary School where more than 1,000 students are studying and 35 teachers are working. It was also situated within 60 metres from the church.
The petition came up before the division bench comprising Justices M Jayachandran and S Nagamuthu.
The petitioner's counsel, C Muthu Saravanan told the court that due to the crowd, which gather at the liquor shop and the bar, the girl students are affected along with the general public.
"Liquor shops shall not be established within a distance of 50 metres in municipal corporation and municipalities and 100 metres in other areas from any place of worship or educational institutions under Rule 8 of the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (In Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003. On the basis of it, a representation was given to the concerned authorities. But no action was taken on their part. Hence, a petition has been filed," the counsel told.
After hearing this, the bench came down on the government. The bench asked the pleader who represents the government and how such shops are permitted while the Act itself forbids them to do it? The bench ordered to issue notice to the authority to reply to this matter within two weeks.
