MP High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking Removal Of Liquor Shops Within 500m Of Highways

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (November 17), issued notice to the State and Union Governments in a public interest litigation seeking strict compliance with the Supreme Court directive to close or relocate all liquor vends situated within 500 meters of National and State Highways. The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf directed; "Issue notice. Notice is accepted by learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2 and 3 who prays for time to take instructions. List after two weeks". The petitioner, a resident of Bhopal, submitted that despite the categorical prohibition by the Supreme Court in State of Tamil Nadu v. K. Balu, liquor shops continue to operate openly on the National Highway of Katni and Badwara. The petition stated that the presence of these shops in proximity to the highway poses a grave risk to public life and safety, as they encourage the consumption of alcohol by commuters and heavy vehicle drivers while in transit. Further, the petition stated that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also issued detailed Guidelines and Circulars expressly prohibiting the establishment and operation of liquor vends or outlets. However, the State and Union Governments have failed to adhere to these guidelines. The petition also referred to the circular of June 1, 2017, issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which directed the State and Union Governments to ensure strict compliance with the aforementioned Supreme Court directions. Despite such directions, the Excise Department has continued to permit liquor shops under the new Excise Police Act of 2026-26, thereby depicting a systemic violation of constitutional and statutory duties, the plea claims. It adds that the continued operation of liquor shops along the highways leads to frequent accidents resulting in loss of life, thereby directly violating the right to life and personal safety under Article 21 of the Constitution. Therefore, the petition seeks directions for immediate and effective steps to ensure strict compliance with the binding direction of the Supreme Court. Further, the petition seeks formulation and implementation of periodic inspection and monitoring mechanism to prevent further establishment or operation of such liquor vendors. As an interim measure, the plea seeks immediate identification and preparation of a list of all such liquor vendors and shops situated within 500 meters of the National and State Highways. The case is now listed for December 02.Case Title: Rashid Noor Khan v Union of India [WP-41864-2025]For Petitioner: Advocate Aryan Urmalia For State: Government Advocate Anubhav Jain For Union: Advocate Arnav TiwariClick here to read/download the Order

MP High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking Removal Of Liquor Shops Within 500m Of Highways

Jayanti Pahwa

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