Raj high court issues notice to govt over liquor shops; COVID-19 death toll reaches 100

Jaipur: The Rajasthan high court on Friday sought explanation from the government as to why the liquor shops were opened in the state during the lockdown. The court has asked the government to submit an affidavit with the reply by May 12. The court issued the directions after a lawyer filed a petition in this regard accusing the government of flouting lockdown norms in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

The double bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mohanty and SK Sharma head the petition. The government. The petitioner argued that the union government had given permission to open liquor shops in isolated areas, but the Rajasthan government has allowed all liquor shops to open. He argued that this was a violation of the COVID-19 lockdown guidelines. When the liquor shops opened on May 4, the people gathered to buy liquor, ignoring social distancing guidelines.

“It has increased the danger of COVID-19 spread,” the petitioner argued demanding that the liquor shops be closed.

The government argued that the shops have been directed to follow social distancing norms. Excise department is deputing guards at each shop.

The government has been asked to submit a reply by May 12.

Rajasthan reported 64 new coronavirus cases till 2 pm on Friday. Of them, 26 cases were reported in Jaipur, 9 each in Ajmer and Jodhpur, 8 in Kota, 5 in Pali, 2 each in Alwar, Udaipur and Jhalawar and 1 in Sikar. The total case count has gone up to 3491.

The death has reached 100 in Rajasthan. A man died in Ajmer on Friday.