Allahabad High Court Seeks UP Govt's Response On PIL For Removal Of Liquor Shop Located Near A School, Temple & Hospital

The Allahabad High Court last week sought the Uttar Pradesh Government's response in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea seeking removal of a licensed liquor shop located in front of a Children school, Hospital, and 50 years old temple, and residential area

The Bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Vivek Varma was hearing a plea filed by Petitioner In-Person Ashok Kumar Shukla, who sought the immediate transfer/removal of the country-made liquor shop, foreign liquor shop, and beer shop at Hari Bazar, Balaganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow.

It was his specific submission that as per the Uttar Pradesh Number and Location of Excise Shops Rules, 1968, liquor shops cannot be operated within 50 meters in the municipal area.

Averring that the liquor shop license holder is an influential person, the plea submitted that she is operating liquor shop within 25-35 meters from St. Joseph School, J.P.S. Children Hospital, old temple and residential area at Hari Bazar, Balaganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow in contravention of the aforesaid Rules, 1968

Considering the aforesaid, the Standing Counsel appearing for the State Government was directed to seek necessary instructions in the matter by the next date of listing and the matter was listed for December 15, 2021.

It may be noted that recently the Bombay High Court had observed that the schools, that are inculcating standard moral values in students as envisaged by the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, need not worry about any student being adversely affected because of liquor restaurants in their vicinity.

The Bench of Justice G. S. Kulkarni observed thus as it rejected a plea filed challenging the State excise department's order granting a liquor license to a restaurant near a school, being run by the petitioners.

Case Title - Ashok Kumar Shukla v. State Of U.P.

Click Here To Read and Download the order