HC PIL seeks home delivery of liquor

Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Thursday directed the state counsel to seek instructions (information) from the state government with regard to a PIL seeking closure of the sale of liquor from shops on grounds that social distancing was not being maintained. As per guidelines government, adhering to social distancing was mandatory at all places to check spread of Covid-19.
Hearing a PIL filed by Sunil Choudhary, a social activist, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Siddhartha Varma directed to list this matter on May 12 for the next hearing. In the PIL, the court has been requested to direct the UP government to start online booking of liquor and its subsequent home delivery, if the economy so required. In the PIL, the petitioner has stated that he is not against the policy of the government to permit sale of liquor, but what perturbed him most was the violation of social distancing norms throughout the country in purchase of liquors from wine shops. In this backdrop, the petitioner requested the court to direct stopping of sale of liquors from shops. Instead, direct the Uttar Pradesh government to start online booking of liquor and thereafter make its home delivery so that mandatory norm of social distancing can be adhered to.
According to him, he has annexed some photos with his PIL showing clear violation of norm of social distancing while purchasing liquor from the shops, which were directed to be opened recently during the lockdown period by the government.