Swarna Shukla –
Published On: October 21, 2021 at 16:00 IST
The Kerala High Court requested the Excise Department and BEVCO to start thinking about providing walk-in facilities instead of lining up a que.
Justice Devan Ramachandran stated, “Nobody wants a liquor store next to their residence. This is a fact; there is no point in lying about it. But if liquor stores were like all the other stores with a walk-in facility, it would solve half the problem. The issue is that since these outlets are small and dingy, people line up on the streets, making it impossible for women and children to safely walk through these areas. I don’t see why we are burying our heads in the sand; this is happening and we all know it.”
S Kannan, a Government Pleader informed the Court about baby steps improvement of liquor shops been improved by the Excise Department.
The Court directed the Respondents to initiate steps to make all liquor stores in the State walk-in shops to make it convenient for the citizens.
The Petitioner was directed to implead S. Shyam Sundar, the new Managing Director of BEVCO into the matter. The case will be taken up again on November 09, 2021.
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