Madras HC to hear PIL against liquor at conference halls, stadia in TN

Madras High Court division bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice PD Adikesavalu has decided to hear a case challenging a Government Order issued on April 24 permitting to serve liquor to guests at national or international conferences, summits at conference halls, convention halls other than in educational institutions and in other venue like stadia that host national and international sporting events.

Chennai, July 5 (BPNS)

The division bench fixed the date for hearing after the Advocate General R. Shanmugasundaram informed the court that the GO was issued on par with other states where the serving of liquor was permitted during events like celebrations after cricket matches.

The Advocate General asked the court to take up the case at the earliest. The submission was made during the hearing of a case in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by K. Balu, President, Advocate’s Forum for Social Justice. This PIL was however against another GO Issued on March 18 that provided grant for special licenses to serve liquor for events conducted at wedding halls and also for household celebrations and parties. However the amended Government Order of April 24 had cancelled all these provisions.

It may be noted that on April 26 a division bench of the Madras High Court comprising of Justices S. Vaidyanathan and R. Kalaimathi gave an interim stay order to the PIL filed by K. Balu of the Advocates Forum for Social Justice. However the A-G informed the first bench of the Madras High Court comprising of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala that the March 18 GO was infructuous as that GO was replaced by the April 24 GO which does not permit serving of liquor in household or family celebrations.

The Counsel for the petitioner K. Balu, Advocate Jothimanian told the court that his client has filed a fresh PIL challenging the validity of the April 24 order also and hence both the cases could be heard together. The Bench of the Chief Justice accepted the request and directed the Madras High Court registry to list both the cases on July 24.