PIL against liquor shop on elephant path

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha, before whom the PIL move by the resident came up, ordered notice returnable byFebruary 18. C Prakasam, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the spot on Mayar Road in Masinagudi where the liquor shop is located, is frequented by wild elephants. It is also situated within an area where all such developments are prohibited, the petitioner said, seeking for appropriate orders to remove the shop.

The petitioner’s counsel also sought to implead the owner of the premises where the Tasmac shop is housed.

The counsels appearing for the government sought time to get instructions on the latest position by means of status reports with supporting documents and photographs, if any.

Plea against Tasmac shop near Ariyalaur bus stand

Meanwhile, another PIL came up before the same bench relating to a Tasmac shop located 150 metres away from the Ariyalur bus stand. The shop is within the prohibited distance of places of religious worship and public park, contended the petitioner, alleging that this posed grave nuisance to the commuters and public.

The division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha ordered notice to the government authorities, directing them to file a counter affidavit providing details as to whether any unauthorised bar was functioning adjacent to the Tasmac shop, whether the area in and around the shop was maintained cleanly, and the solution to be put in place in the event of law and order and public order problems caused by the drunkards.

The petitioner said that the Tasmac shop was closed about two years ago. But on January 2, 2019, it began functioningonce again. The plea has been posted for further hearing to February 20.