Arunachal, Andaman exempted from 500-m rule

In a relief to Arunachal Pradesh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Supreme Court relaxed the cap on liquor shops within 500 metres of national and state highways there.

A three-judge bench relaxed its earlier ruling for the northeastern state, noting that almost half the state revenue came from the sale  of  liquor, and  916  of  the 1,011 shops were affected   by   the 500-metre cap. The counsel appearing for Arunachal Pradesh said that 80 per cent of the state was covered by forests and, out of a total state revenue of Rs 441.61 crore, Rs 210 crore came from liquor sale.

The bench similarly allowed the union territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ liquor vends within the 500-metre region.

On March 31 this year, the apex court had said that liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways will have to shut down. The court had, however, exempted the hill states of Sikkim, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh, and areas having a population of up to 20,000.