Liquor ban: When highways are left high and dry

De-classifying state roadways dilutes spirit of SC order and may open up legal complications

The recent knee-jerk de-notification of roadways by various state governments and the Centre’s plans for a presidential reference may roil the waters on the Supreme Court order banning the sale of liquor on highways. Even after a March 31 clarification of the court’s earlier order, the Centre and states still seem to be mulling their options to continue selling alcohol on highways.

States like Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal took no chances and instead embarked on the adventurous step to de-notifying several portions of their highways in an attempt to protect hefty excise revenues through such liquor sales. As expected,