DNA Micro Edit: If highways denotified, liquor ban loses teeth

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has raised hopes for the restaurant industry by demanding denotification of National Highway 236. Arguing that the liquor ban along highways would cause a huge loss of revenues to the government, the AAP leader is trying woo the sector. Since the Supreme Court ban on serving alcohol within 500 metres of national and state highway came into play, the industry has been reeling under losses, which has directly affected lakhs of workers, too.

A majority of them have been ruing the apex court's decision, and the seeming lack of a concrete solution. Having said that, however, Sisodia has chosen to overlook the larger picture and the ramifications that may ensue if his demands are met by the Central government. It would set a precedent whereby everyone would demand denotification of roads and highways citing similar reasons. A telling example of smartly trying to circumvent around the SC order is Cyber Hub which after two months of running dry, opened bottles and barrels with a new entry that was away from the highway. Denotification in the garb of loss to state exchequer is also cocking a snook at the highest court of law of the country, apart from giving ideas to other states on how to hoodwink and get it way around.