Supreme Court Tells Govt To Sell Alcohol Online; Refuses To Stop Alcohol Sale During #Lockdown

The Supreme Court has refused to bring a stay on the online delivery of alcohol, instead suggested that states should consider home delivery of alcohol and taking orders online.

Find out all the details about the SC’s orders, right here!

Supreme Court Refuses To Order Stay On Online Delivery Of Alcohol

It hasn’t been many days since the Government allowed for liquor shops to open in India in lockdown. There are huge masses of people lining up in front of the alcohol stores, defeating the purpose of the lockdown altogether. 

Zomato came up with a solution for this – online alcohol delivery. The Governments of Punjab, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh are also ready to deliver alcohol at people’s doorstep. 

However, a petition was filed that sought an MHA order to bring a stay on the sale of alcohol in the country so that people don’t gather in masses and spread the disease further. 

The Supreme Court has refused to bring a stay on this and dismissed the plea filed by Guruswamy Nataraj. Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and B R Gavai presided over this case via video conferencing.

The Supreme Court ordered while dismissing the plea, “It shall be open for the concerned State Government to consider non-direct sale including on-line sale/home delivery of liquor to facilitate social distancing.”

Supreme Court Suggests Alternative: Online Delivery Of Alcohol

Not only did the Supreme Court refuse to bring a stay on the sale of alcohol, but it also suggested alternatives so as to curb the spreading of the deadly coronavirus disease. The Supreme Court noted that a discussion is ongoing about the online delivery of alcohol so that people don’t come in contact with one another while waiting in line at the alcohol stores.

Advocate Sai Deepak, who appeared for the petitioner, also said, “The bench directed that States may consider allowing non-direct contact sales or online sales or home delivery of liquor during these times.”

The economy has sunk sharply due to all operations being suspended during this lockdown period. Alcohol sales will definitely bring the revenue up, and it is one of the main sources of revenue generation for many states. If online delivery of alcohol is implemented, we will definitely see a rise in the economy.