Madras HC Orders Closure Of Liquor Shops Across The State On Martyr's Day [Read Order]

The Madurai bench of the High Court, on Tuesday, had directed the state to declare, the 30 January, 2019, as a 'Dry Day' by closing all the liquor shops across the State, as a mark of respect to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.

The bench comprising Justice KK Sasidharan and Justice PD Audikesavalu passed this order in a petition registered suo motu taking cognizance of the report published in The Hindu about a four-way junction in Madurai which remains chaotic with haphazard movement of vehicles throughout the day. The report said that TASMAC, which runs liquor shop, functioning near the junction, causes trouble due to parking of two wheelers near the shop in the evenings.

The bench directed TASMAC to close the shop at the said junction until further orders.

The bench then said: "This year, 2019 is the 150th birth year of the Father of the Nation 'Mahatma Gandhi'. The 30th January, is the day on which Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, which is observed as Martyrs' Day…As a mark of respect to the Father of the Nation, we direct the State of Tamil Nadu to declare tomorrow, the 30 January, 2019 as a 'Dry Day' by closing all the liquor shops across the State including the Bar, attached to Hotels of all categories, clubs and all other places, where liquor is sold/served, taking into account the fact that it is the assassination day of Mahatma Gandhi."

Read Order