Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday decided to challenge the decision of the Madras High Court in the Supreme Court. The High Court had on Friday ordered the state government to shut down all TASMAC liquor shops in the state.
The High Court had ordered these state-owned TASMAC shops that were selling liquor to shut down due to lack of adherence to physical distancing norms and a reported spike in the number of COVID-19 related cases. They said that these shops will remain shut till the time the Centre or the state governments modify the lockdown conditions.
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The State government had contended that ” It is pertinent that in the state of Tamil Nadu, all liquor retail is owned and operated by TASMAC. Thus the net effect of the High Court is complete and standstill of the sale of liquor in the state leading to a grave loss in revenue to the state”.
The state government has contended that this judicial order overreaches into the domain of the State’s right to make a policy decision and is against the letter and spirit of the constitution.