Maharashtra govt mulls review petition challenging SC ban on liquor shops near highways

The Maharashtra government is exploring the option of following Tamil Nadu and going for a review petition in the Supreme Court to save revenue loss of almost Rs 7000 crore.

The Supreme Court had on December 15, 2016, ordered for liquor shops on national highways and state highways to be banned across the country. The apex court also had made it clear that licences of the existing shops should not be renewed after March 31, 2017.

Minister for Excise Chandrashekhar Bavankule said that in Maharashta there are a total of 20,000 liquor shops and hotels, out of which 12,000 would be closed down since the state government had no opion but to obey the apex court order. 

He said that the state government had estimated that almost 62% liquor shops would be closed down. Out of the total revenue income of Rs 13,000 crore, the state would lose almost Rs 7,000 crore by implementing this order.

Bavankule said that his department had sought a copy of the review petition by the Tamil Nadu government which seeks to bring down the distance limit of allowing a liquor shop in the vicinity of the highways from 500 metres to 100 metres, be it national highway or state highway. 

Bavankule said that the Tamil Nadu government petition was pending and that the state government would explore the same route so that it can either bring down the huge losses or make up for the same.