Home delivery, e-sale of booze: HC bins PIL

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a PIL seeking framing of policy to permit online sale and home delivery of liquor in Uttar Pradesh.

Dismissing a PIL filed by lawyer Gopal Krishna Pandey, a division bench comprising acting chief justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and justice Subhash Chandra Sharma observed, “Finding the subject matter as a policy of the state we are not inclined to allow online sale of liquor.”

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that certain states have issued notification to allow online sale of liquor. It was in pursuance of the observations made by Supreme Court to the states to consider non-direct sale, including online/home delivery of liquor, to avoid overcrowding and to maintain social distancing norms in view of Covid-19.

It was submitted that Madras High Court had permitted online sale of liquor.

The chief standing counsel representing the state government opposed the petition and submitted that the prayer made was in reference to the policy decision and presently government was not inclined to allow online sale of liquor.

The permission to sell liquor online by a few states was at the time when pandemic was at its peak to avoid over-crowding at shops.

In the PIL, several reasons were cited like allowing online sale of liquor would mean more sale and revenue. Besides, there will be low cost of maintenance of shops.

Rejecting the plea the c said, “Petitioner has show concern to increase the reve of the state and other asp which include purchas liquor even by those who be shy in making purch from the shop. The reas given are not to avoid o crowding or to maintain so distancing to follow the id-19 protocol rather it is for ferent reasons than observe the apex court.”

The court delivered this sion on August 4.