The Supreme Court’s recent order on the ban on sale of liquor on the highways, could give relief to another set of over 1,000 liquor outlets in the panchayat areas. 

Clearing confusion around its order which said the liqour ban along the highways does not apply to licensed establishments falling within the municipal areas, the SC on February 23 stateed that it would be open to the state governments to determine whether the principle, which has been laid down it in July 11, 2017, should also apply to areas covered by local self-governing bodies and statutory development authorities or is the area developed enough to warrant a ban. 

The order on applications filed by various states, including Kerala and Rajasthan seeking permission for location of such shops, has given respite to outlets in the village panchayats across the State.

“Around 1,332 liquor outlets fell under the ambit of the SC’s previous judgment along with over 2,000 in other jurisdictions. With the present order, those in the panchayats will get a fresh lease of life. The Excise Department will send a report to the government and if an approval is granted, these liquor outlets will get their licenses renewed,” a government official said reacting to the SC’s latest judgment. 

In its first order on December 15, 2016 the SC banned sale and serving of alcohol within 500 mtrs of the State and national highways. This affected over 3,000 liquor outlets in Goa. However, a modified order on March 31, 2017 reducing the distance from 500 mtrs to 220 mtrs in areas having a population of up to 20,000, saved around 1,203 liquor outlets from facing the axe. In another order on July 11, 2017, the court exempted municipal areas from the prohibition. 

The conversion of State hgihways to district roads in a few locations also saved a number of liquor outlets from facing closure. Now with the latest order, 1,332 outlets across the village panchayats will benefit.