New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the state governments, which are struggling with overcrowding in front of liquor shops, to ensure home delivery of liquor amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
A bench led by Justice Ashok bhushan passed the order in order to curb the rush outside liquor outlets. Advocate Sai Deepak, appearing for the petitioner, contended in the court today that number of liqour shops are very less and number of people who want to buy are very large.
Justice SK Kaul, appearing for the government, said that discussion on home delivery etc is already going on and what does the petitioner want the court to consider under Article 32.
Advocate responded saying that life of a common man should not be affected by this and the Home ministry should make clarifications and the states should abide by it. The court said that they are not inclined to entertain this petition and left on the states to decide the matter and consider home delivery and online sale.
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The court was bearing a PIL which sought to declare the new COVID-19 guidelines issued to the extent that sale of liquor during the lockdown through direct sales contact be considered unconstitutional, null and void.
It is to be noted that most liquor outlets are operating without ensuring social distancing norms and consumers are thronging wine shops without proper precautionary measures including face masks, which are deemed compulsory.
On the first day of re-opening liquor sales, police were summoned in the national capital immediately to disperse the crowd and close down the outlet. According to a government official, about 150 liquor shops have been allowed to open in accordance with the latest lockdown relaxations in the national capital alone.
