In what will bring some clarity on the issue of the highway liquor ban, the Supreme Court on Wednesday clarified that its ban on the sale of liquor within 500 m of highways is not applicable to licensed bars and outlets falling within municipal limits, Live Law reported.
“The purpose of the directions contained in the order dated 15 December 2016 is to deal with the sale of liquor along and in proximity of highways properly understood, which provide connectivity between cities, towns and villages. The order does not prohibit licensed establishments within municipal areas,” a bench, comprising Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and justices DY Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao said.
“We have considered it appropriate to issue this clarification to set at rest any ambiguity,” the court added. This clarification by the court is expected to clear nearly all the litigation cases in high courts in this matter.
The apex court had imposed the ban after hearing a plea that claimed that nearly 1.42 lakh people died in road accidents every year, and that drunken driving was a major cause for this.
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