Thiruvananthapuram: Government has decided to file appeal before the Supreme Court on Monday against its order that liquor outlets have to be shifted from 500 metres from the National Highway. The state government will also move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking three months’ time to shift the liquor outlets which are within 500 metres from the national highways, PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran said here on Tuesday. He also ruled out denotifying the highways to bypass the Supreme Court ruling.
“I will not have any confrontation with the people on the bar closure issue,” he said and added that bars will not be set up near religious institutions or in residential areas. The local self-government bodies have to take the initiative to shift the liquor shops, he told reporters. The LDF government does not want to encourage drinking, he said and maintained that none should drink. “Foreign liquor will not be distributed through toddy shops,” he pointed out. None had approached him so far seeking his help to shift the liquor outlets, he said. He also warned that if liquor is not being sold as per law, hooch will flow.
