SC Suggests Online Sale And Home Delivery Of Liquor During Lockdown

The Supreme Court (SC,) on the 8th of May, suggested to state governments to consider online sale or home delivery of liquor during the nation wide lockdown.

After the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA,) announced relaxations for the Green Zones of India and allowed opening of liquor shops, many were seen violating social distancing norms.

In regard to this a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) under Article 32 was filed against the flouting of all the social distance norms and lockdown guidelines at liquor shops.

Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice B.R. Gavai, a SC bench of 3, heard the PIL through video conferencing.  After reviewing the matter, the Apex Court said it is not feasible to pass orders on the PIL filed under Article 32 and instead asked the state governments to consider selling liquor through other viable options.

One such suggestion was the online sale of liquor and home deliveries instead of standing in long queues and violating social distancing norms.

The court said, “We will not pass any order. States should consider indirect sale or home delivery of liquor to maintain social distancing.”

Advocate Sai Deepak, representing the petitioner, submitted that the opening of liquor shops should not meddle with the lives of the common people.

The petition also asked to prohibit sale of liquor for human consumption at liquor shops through direct contact sales during the lockdown would be beneficials to contain the spread of COVID-19.

India reported a total of 56,561 cases of the Novel Coronavirus with 1,895 fatalities till the 8th of May.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Source: IANS.