Top court asks states to consider online sales, home delivery of liquor

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday asked states to consider non-direct contact or online sales and home delivery of liquor during the lockdown period to prevent the spread of Coronavirus on account of crowding at the shops.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishankaul and BR Gavai, which took up the matter through video conferencing, disposed of the plea challenging the guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 1, allowing sales of

liquor through direct contact sales during the lockdown period.

The bench directed that States may consider allowing non-direct contact sales or online sales or home delivery of liquor during these times, advocate Sai Deepak, appearing for petitioner Guruswamynataraj said after the hearing. During the hearing, he argued that there are 70,000

liquor vends across the country and over five crore people have till now purchased liquor from these shops.

He said that due to social distancing norms not being fol

lowed at the liquor vends and shops, there has been rise in Covid-19 cases.

Deepak contended that the results, which have been achieved in over a month-long nationwide lockdown will be nullified as the Coronavirus graph, which was earlier flattening, is now showing a sharp rise.

He sought issuance of fresh MHA guidelines or directions for prohibition of sale of liquor at vends and shops through direct contact during the lockdown period or till the National Disaster Management Authority announces India to be Covid-19 free.

To this, the bench said that discussion is already going on for allowing online sale of liquor or its home delivery.

Deepak said he only wanted that life of a common man should not be affected due to this direct sale from vends and MHA should issue clarificatory guidelines and states should abide by it.