Madras HC Admits Plea Against Online Sale Of Liquor By TASMAC
The Madras High Court on Thursday admitted a petition against the government’s proposal to sell liquor through TASMAC’s online portal.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Thursday admitted a petition against the government’s proposal to sell liquor through Tasmac’s online portal.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari issued notice to the government returnable by four weeks. The petitioner and advocate K. Balu of the PMK said the government order was illegal, unjust and a colourable exercise of powers.
He said the move was against the public interest and argued that online liquor purchases were against the rules and contrary to the judgments of the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Balu said Article 47 of the Constitution casts a duty on the state regarding the level of nutrition and the standard of living of the people and specifically mandates the state to endeavour to bring about the prohibition of intoxicating drinks harmful to health. By introducing online sale of liquor, the government is contradicting its constitutional obligations, he charged.
He further said the existing rules prohibit the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 21 years, but selling alcohol online would allow any underage person to place orders using someone’s profile and it would make enforcement of rules difficult.
The new system, which has been introduced by way of executive direction, is an arbitrary exercise of power and against existing laws, he added.
