New Delhi: Two days after a Supreme Court-imposed ban on liquor sale along national and state highways came into effect, Rajasthan seems to have found a way out.
The state’s Public Works Department (PWD) is set to denotify the state highways to urban roads to skirt the ban, which has owners and workers of the affected liquor shops, pubs and bars up in arms.
The Supreme Court had in its order said that liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways will have to shut down from April 1. It had reduced the distance from 500 metres to 220 metres in municipal areas having the population less than 20,000.Also Read: 'Booze-ness' as Usual in Karnataka Despite SC Ban on Highway liquor Vends
Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has said his ministry will seek legal suggestions to explore a "middle path" to solve problems being faced by hoteliers and restaurant owners.
Sharma, however, has said the government will work within the framework of the directives of the Supreme Court in the matter.
"We respect the Supreme Court order. We will take suggestions from legal experts to see whether there can be a middle path," Sharma said. He, however, said the matter is a state subject and any decision regarding it will be taken by the state governments.Also Read: Tourism Creates Jobs, Why Kill it? Asks Niti Aayog’s Amitabh Kant on SC’s Highway Liquor Ban
"We will refer the problems being faced by the hoteliers and restaurant owners, due to the ban, to the states and it is for them to take necessary actions," the minister said.
Thousands of restaurants, liquor vends and bars, including those in five-star hotels, along national and state highways have been stopped from serving alcohol since Saturday.
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