[BREAKING] Madras HC orders closure of TASMAC/Liquor vending outlets in TN amid COVID-19 Lockdown after large-scale violation of guidelines

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the closure of TASMAC/liquor vending outlets in Tamil Nadu, a day after it initially declined to intervene on a plea urging that they remain closed during the COVID-19 lockdown..The Court has ordered,."... the TASMAC is directed to close all of its shops/outlets, which were opened on 07.05.2020 and 08.05.2020 with immediate effect and no shops shall be kept open till the lockdown imposed by the Central/State Government is lifted/modified in accordance with law."Madras High Court.The order was passed this evening by a Bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Pushpa Satynarayanan on a batch of pleas moved today, citing large scale violations of the guidelines issued for the sale of alcohol. .On being informed of this state of affairs today, the Court has now directed the closure of alcohol vending outlets in the State, although it added that online or door-to-door delivery may be permitted. .After recording submissions made by Advocate Anirudh Krishnan regarding e-payment facilities that may be employed, the Court said, ."... it is open to the State and the TASMAC to resort to only home delivery of the liquor by indirect sale during this lockdown period, viz., online booking of order for liquor and by putting the required system in place in the manner in which, they can sell the liquor and make home delivery in the above manner."Madras High Court.In this regard, the Court also noted that the State Government may have to amend the Tamil Nadu Liquor (License and Permit) Rules, 1981"to have the technology enabled home delivery to promote responsible consumption of alcohol.".Given the present pandemic situation, the Court commented that "it is imperative that the Government of Tamil Nadu should look at option of online sale and home delivery.".Mad Liquor rush leads to concerns of new COVID-19 cluster: High Court.The Bench took critical note that all the precautionary directions given by the TASMAC authorities as well as the High Court on Thursday "have been thrown into air." .Apart from startling photos and videos attesting to the same, the Court also observed that there were reports of law and order problems and "about the share of TASMAC in bringing in domestic violence and also death of four people."."The Newspaper and Visual Media reports would also go to show that the mad rush to the TASMAC shops reminded one of the similar rush to the Koyambedu Market, which resulted in the closure of the same, after spreading of the novel Corona Virus to many number of persons."the Court observed..The Court proceeded to note that, "Now what worries this Court is this mad rush for the liquor, where thousands of people without following any of the norms prescribed by the State, TASMAC authorities or by this Court, would only lead to witnessing the form of surge of new cluster...".In this backdrop, the Court also observed in one day alone, the TASMAC sales added up to Rs 175 crores. The Bench remarked that this "only goes to show that the State machinery is out of control either in disciplining the crowd or even in the process of sales.".Advocate General Vijay Narayan, Additional Advocate General SR Rajagopal, assisted by Government Pleader Jayaprakash Narayan appeared for the State. Advocate Sathish appeared for TASMAC..Various petitioners were represented by Senior Advocate ARL Sundaresan, for Advocate KS Karthik Raja, and Advocates S Ilamuhil, Jumraj Milton and Y Kavita. Petitioner B Ramkumar Adityan appeared party in person..The matter will be taken up next on May 14. .Read the Order:.The development comes a day after the Court refused to stay the re-opening of TASMAC outlets for the sale of alcohol from May 7 onwards amid the third phase of the COVID-19 lockdown since it was a policy matter. .Liquor purchase allowed twice a week with a gap of 3 days, Bill should record Aadhaar: Madras HC guidelines for liquor sale amid COVID-19 .In yesterday's order, the Court had remarked, "We are of the opinion that we cannot totally prohibit the re-opening of the TASMAC shops for sale of Liqours, including Beer, Wine etc. in the State.".However, it had issued a number of additional guidelines to be adhered to concerning the limits of alcohol purchase per person per day, a bar on cash payments save for those without online payment facilities and a direction that the bill of sale include the name, Aadhar number and address of the customer.