TASMAC case: SC extends stay on MHC's order against opening liquor outlets in Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a petition seeking to quash the Madras High Court’s order restraining the state government from opening the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) owned liquor outlets.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a petition seeking to quash the Madras High Court’s order which directed liquor vends in Tamil Nadu to shut shop.

The apex court had also extended the stay on the MHC’s order and clarified that the case can be held before the high court

When the lockdown was imposed, TASMAC, a state-run liquor monopoly, had shut all its liquor outlets. However, later in May, the TASMAC had opened the shops with some restrictions. Thereof, a slew of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed before the court. Following this, the high court restrained the state government from opening the liquor outlet.

The High Court had ordered closure of liquor outlets noting that there were huge crowds and no social distancing was being maintained by tipplers. It, however, had allowed doorstep delivery of booze through online mode.

Thus, the state government had moved the top court challenging the High Court order saying that the closure of such shops would lead to "grave losses" in state’s revenue and complete halt in commercial activities. The top court had passed a stay on the order and postponed the matter in May.

On May 15, the top court had paved the way for reopening of state-owned liquor vends in the state by staying a High Court order which had ordered their closure for the time being on the ground that there was violation of guidelines, such as social distancing, meant to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

After several sittings, the bench had disposed of the matter on Monday.

In a major relief to the Tamil Nadu Government, the top court extended stay on MHC’s order against the opening of liquor outlets.