The latest order of the Supreme Court is self-explanatory and does not require any clarification by the State, said senior counsel Arvind P. Datar. In the original case filed by Pattali Makkal Katchi advocate K. Balu that led to the ban, Mr. Datar had represented the Tamil Nadu Bars and Club Owners Association.
“Paragraph 7 of the July 11 order is very clear. It does not require any clarification by the State. All licensed bars in municipal areas can now function as usual,” Mr. Datar said.
The apex court had passed an order on December 15 banning sale of liquor within 500 metres from highways. On March 31, the court extended the ban to bars, pubs and restaurants.
However, in an order on July 11, passed in a related case from Chandigarh and uploaded on the Supreme Court website only on Wednesday, the court clarified that the ban would not apply to liquor shops, hotels, clubs and pubs in municipal areas.
Mr. Balu said the Supreme Court should have given him an opportunity to make his submissions before passing the July order. Saying that he plans to file a review or modification petition against the July order, Mr. Balu explained that the apex court order annuls the Madras High Court ban on re-opening State-run liquor shops on highways.