Plea in Delhi HC to start online sale of liquor to ensure social distancing

A plea was filed in Delhi High Court seeking direction to AAP government to start online sale of liquor to ensure social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic as people turned out in large numbers crowding such shops after y opened this week increasing risk of spreing virus. As an alternative prayer, plea has sought introduction of a token system at liquor shops that will help in crowd manment. petition is likely to come up for hearing on May 11.

Petitioner Sajag Nijhawan referred to various media reports highlighting instances of crowds garing at liquor shops since y opened on May 4, without maintaining social distancing and leing to law and order situation. It alleged re was a failure on part of AAP government in taking appropriate steps to control large garing in and around 150 government-run liquor shops which were opened after 47 days.

Hundreds of people turned up outside liquor shops, creating complete chaos as social distancing rms were t hered to and forcing police to use mild force to disperse unruly crowd, it said. petition, filed through Simran Kohli and Abheehshek Bhagat, sought a direction to Delhi government and its Excise Department to take immediate steps in view of coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic to control crowds outside liquor shops and to ensure strict herence to social distancing.

It sought a direction to Delhi government to evolve a proper policy to start online sale of liquor and deliver it to consumers' homes at a time when entire machinery of country is tirelessly working to contain COVID-19 outbreak. petition said it does t seek closing of se shops considering burden on government to deal with major revenue dip, but was seeking judicial order for appropriate steps to balance need of revenue generation as well as social distancing.

Ar PIL was filed by NGO Civil Safety Council of India in high court on Wednesday seeking direction to Delhi government to close liquor shops in national capital until situation of COVID-19 pandemic is under control. It is likely to come up for hearing on Friday.