Hyderabad: PIL against liquor sale near NH

Hyderabad: A public interest petition has been moved before the Hyderabad High Court seeking a direction to the Andhra Pradesh government to not allow liquor shops within 500 metres of national or state highways.

Mr K. Gokul Poturaju, a resident of Challapalli village of Krishna district, moved the public interest litigation alleging that the state government was implementing the orders issued by the Supreme Court prohibiting the establishment of liquor shops near highways in view of the accidents caused due to drunk driving.

Mr Poturaju said that the Supreme Court, taking note of the alarming situation of the road accidents claiming human lives and causing permanent disability, had issued an order in December 2016 framing guidelines to set up liquor shops near national highways.

He alleged that the state government had been misinterpreting the clarification given by the Supreme Court with regard to establishment of liquor shops within the jurisidictions of municipalities and urban bodies and allowing the shops to be set up contrary to the guidelines.