Liquor bars in Jaipur municipal area exempted from Supreme Court ban

Jaipur: Almost four months after the Supreme Court banned the sale of liquor within 500 meters of national and state highways, the Rajasthan government sought interpretation of the SC order and found that it could allow liquor bars in hotels in the municipal areas of the state.

The excise department had sought legal counselling from the standing council.

As per reports, the government would be able to allow hotel bars within 500 meters of the national highways if they are situated in the municipal area jurisdiction.

The latest development can affect nearly 800 hotels in Rajasthan. Hotels which were worst affected by the SC ban were situated in Rankur, Bhilwara, Shahpura, Gulabpura and Churu.

As per the Supreme Court orders, no liquor shop should be operational within 500 meters of state and national highways. Not only liquor shops, but also bars in restaurants, hotels and pubs can not operate within the same distance from the state and national highways.

Following the Supreme Court ban on the sale of liquor on national and state highways, the Rajasthan government had closed down bars being operated in many five-star hotels and famous restaurants on NH-8 in Jaipur and other highways.

The Supreme Court in April banned the sale of liquor on national highways after hearing a petition claiming drunken driving to be a major cause for mishaps on national highways. Nearly 1.4 lakh people die in road accidents every year with drunken driving being a major factor, according to the National Crime Record Bureau data.

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