Don’t relocate Tasmac shops to residential areas: High Court

Following the protests, the Madras High Court has restrained the State Government from relocating or opening of TASMAC shops in residential areas.

The division bench comprising Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice V Parthiban in an interim order held, “It is evident from media reports and the number of cases filed before this court that mostly women are staging dharna and protests spontaneously opposing opening of liquor shops as they are mostly the victims of liquor. Hence, the authorities should manage the situation with sensitivity. They should give paramount important to people’s sentiments and feelings rather than showing interest in relocating or opening of liquor shops which are shattering the families.” 

The bench was passing orders on a batch of petitions from T Vignesh of Tiruppur district, and 10 others, which sought to prohibit the authorities from relocating the liquor shops, which were closed as per Supreme Court directions. 

They contended that the shops were being relocated near temples, schools, factories and residential areas. It was further contended that the police are interested in giving protection to officials to enable them to open or relocate shops at the earliest and they are attacking people who are staging peaceful protests and agitations.

Based on this submission that the bench held, “Wherever there is a Grama Sabha resolution that there should not be opening or relocating of TASMAC shops in villages or towns or any local body or in its vicinity, TASMAC shops shall not be relocated or opened.” 

“If there is any agitation, with regard to relocating of TASMAC shops, the police shall not take action against the agitators provided they demonstrate peacefully, without causing inconvenience to the public,” the bench said. Residents of various localities in Madurai and Tirunelveli also protested against liquor shops in their residential areas, on Monday.