Supreme Court order affects 2,800 liquor shops in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Around 2800 liquor shops situated near the national and state highways in Rajasthan have been affected by the Supreme Court order banning sale of liquor within 500 metres of the highways.

Out of 7,760 liquor shops, which were given licence in the financial year 2016-17, 2,800 fell within the 500 metres radius from highways, thus came under the Supreme Court order, a senior official said.

"Nearly 2,800 shops in Rajasthan were affected by the Supreme court order. Most of the shops have been shifted to other place from their highway location and remaining few were closed because of non-availability of suitable location," Excise Commissioner O P Yadav told PTI.

The Supreme Court has directed that no liquor shop shall be visible and directly accessible from the highways nor it should be situated within 500 metres of the outer edge of the national or state highway or of the service lane.

The apex court had reduced the distance from 500 metres to 220 metres in municipal areas having population less than 20,000.

"Now, we will revise the number and location of shops following the new direction," he said, adding that the impact of the SC's decision on the revenue collection would only be assessed after first quarter of the new financial year.

The revenue collection target for the financial year 2016-17 was Rs 7,300 crore. The department had collected Rs 6,712 crore against the target of Rs 6,300 crore in the fiscal 2015-16.

The apex court had on December 15 banned all liquor shops on national as well as state highways across the country and directed that licenses of existing shops should not be renewed after March 31.