Chennai sources have stated that the state run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has informed the Madras High Court that 325 retail liquor vending shops in the state have been identified as being located within a prohibited area. TASMAC had in September last year submitted that there were been 900 such shops.
It was stated that in the affidavit which was filed by TASMAC, it was mentioned that there were 6,200 retail liquor vending shops in the state, which have been identified and measurements have been carried out as per the Tamil Nadu Survey and Boundaries Act.
However, it had recently submitted that 325 shops
have been identified, which may be in violation of Rule 8 of the Tamil Nadu Liquor
Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules and the matter relates to a PIL filed
by social activist A Narayanan to declare Rule 8 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Liquor
Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules as unconstitutional.
As per the PIL, the rule lays down that “No shop shall be established in Municipal Corporations and Municipalities within a distance of 50 meters and in other areas 100 meters from any place of worship or educational institutions” and adds that “provided that the distance restriction shall not apply in areas designated as “Commercial or Industrial” by the Development and Town Planning Authorities.”
