High Court seeks report on illegal liquor vend at Dhanas

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday issued a notice to the Chandigarh administration on a petition seeking action against an alleged illegal liquor vend in Dhanas village. The court has also sought a status report from the authorities regarding its construction which was allegedly done on the agricultural zone. A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice S J Vazifdar and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu on Tuesday, seeking a response from the authorities, said the pendency of the plea should not stop the authorities from taking any action in accordance with the law “including in respect of a liquor shop if it is otherwise prohibited in law and putting up any illegal construction.”

Sarabjit Singh, a resident of the Sarangpur village, had approached the High Court seeking directions to demolish the liquor vend. He said the shop had been established on a land which, as per the layout plan issued by Chandigarh administration, falls under an agriculture zone where no construction is allowed.

“In the present case, the respondent no. 7 [owner of the land] has not only constructed an illegal structure without permission but is also operating a liquor vend (himself or through his agent or through tenants) which is in direct contravention to the provisions of law,” he said in the petition.

Stating no change of land use permission has been obtained by the owner of the land, Sarabjit has alleged that no action has been taken by authorities in the matter. It has also been alleged in the petition that the liquor vend has already been provided the mandatory license for running the shop.

The petitioner has said presence of the liquor vend has caused various problems in the area “such as traffic issues and threat from criminal actions of people who come into land of petitioners and nearby residents.”

Though the High Court has adjourned the case till January 29, 2018, in the interim order it has also granted, “Liberty to the petitioner to apply even before the returnable date for specific interim reliefs, if necessary.”