Writ Petition filed in High Court for suspension of sale of liquor till the situation of COVID-19 normalizes. Read Petition

On, 6^th May 2020, A writ petition under Article 226 of Constitution was filled before the High Court of Delhi by Advocate Dhananjay Singh Sehrawat(Counsel for the Petitioner), for suspension of Sale of Liquor till the situation of COVID-19 normalizes stating that as soon as the sale of the liquor started after the Government of NCT of Delhi allowed sale of liquor in NCT of Delhi dated 03-05-2020, all the norms of social distancing were seen to be blatantly ignored by the people and huge queues were seen outside liquor shops and at some places, people were pushing and bumping into each other to purchase alcohol. It was seen that at some places, to control the situation, the authorities had to use the force.

The Petitioner stated certain grounds for the suspension of sale of liquor:

1. COVID-19 spreads most by direct contact and hence such huge gathering will boost increase in the numbers of infected persons and the same can be seen through daily updated media reports.
2. According to all the media reports, a huge number of people have gathered outside Liquor Shops ignoring all the guidelines issued amid COVID-19 pandemic.
3. The authorities have failed to comply with the guidelines issued in the office order by office of Excise Commissioner.
4. Authorities of Government of NCT of Delhi have not been able to establish norms of social distancing and other guidelines as formulated and issued by Ministry of Home Affairs and directed to be followed by Government of NCT of Delhi.
5. The law enforcing agencies and authorities won’t be able to perform their duties as customers/public has not co-operated in the past 2 days and closure of liquor shops have been ordered by the police officials on duty to control the situation.
6. as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Delhi is in high risk profiling zone which that is Red zone and in such situation the sale of Liquor in Delhi is in gross violation of order and guidelines of Ministry of Home Affairs dated 01.05.2020.
7. the decision of Government of NCT is out of public interest and do not appreciate the public effort of fighting against pandemic Covid-19.

The Petitioner asked the court to immediately stop the sale of liquor in NCT of Delhi and not to sell Liquor till the situation in the country improves and to Direct the Union of India (Respondent 2) to take necessary steps and insure public health and safety in NCT of Delhi as Delhi is a Union Territory and is supervised by the Union of India (Respondent 2).

High Court of Delhi listed the Petition for 11.05.2020.

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