Punjab govt bypasses SC order, amends law to allow serving liquor near highways

The Punjab government on Friday bypassed the Supreme court order by amending the Excise Act to allow serving of liquor in hotels, restaurants and clubs on the highway.

On Monday, Council of Ministers had given its nod to a proposal to amend Section 26-A of the Punjab Excise Act.

The apex court, on March 31, had said liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways would be shut down from April 1.

Because of the SC order, 1,000 marriage palaces were found to be within 500 meters of highways.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar had also made it clear that the verdict banning liquor vends along highways would also be applicable to bars, pubs and restaurants as drunken driving leads to fatal road accidents.

However, it had also modified the 500-metre cap rule for Himachal Pradesh and local areas which are alongside highways with a population up to 20,000, and said that they may have liquor vends at a distance of 220 metres from the highways.