PIL to end Tasmac’s monopoly

The Madras High Court is set to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that calls for ending the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac)'s monopoly over the wholesale and retail sale of liquor in Tamil Nadu. The litigation proposes liquor in Tamil Nadu to be sold through supermarkets and ration shops.

The PIL was filed by an IT firm employee from Chennai. The petition highlights a range of problems, from Tasmac’s turnover to the unavailability of good quality liquor.

The petitioner also pointed to the reduction in footfall at Chennai airport and the increase in footfall at Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports as an indication of Tamil Nadu's gradual decline in terms of tourism appeal.