Andhra High Court hears petition against liquor sales in state, asks govt to file counter

Andhra Pradesh: A petition was filed in the High Court on the sale of liquor in the state amid Coronavirus outbreak. High Court has held the hearing through video conference on petitions filed on behalf of Mathrubhoomi Foundation by the lawyer BSNV Prasad Babu who argued that allowing liquor stores during the corona outbreak was not a proper course of action. He said the government had failed to take measures to ensure that the consumers had physical distances at liquor shops.

He said that the sale of alcohol would increase the chances of corona spreading. He asserted that as the government said it will enforce the liquor ban, it is now the opportunity to ban it. Petitioner's counsel also requested that the various types of cheap liquors currently being sold in liquor stores be sent for examination.

On the other hand, a lawyer appeared on behalf of government said that the government was committed to a complete alcohol ban. The government has already announced that it will be implemented in a phased manner. The court heard the two arguments and directed the government to file the counter before Wednesday and also asked the petitioner's counsel to file reply counter-complaint against the government-filed counter and adjourned the hearing to Friday.