29 liquor shops near highways to wrap up biz on Saturday

SHILLONG: Altogether 29 liquor shops located within 500 meters of the Guwahati-Shillong road will shut up shop from April 1.
The outlets will be closed down following the Supreme Court’s directive last year calling for complete ban on liquor sale along all national and state highways.
The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice T.S Thakur, however, had said the shops can operate till March 31, 2017.
However, there were several pleas against the verdict and the Supreme Court on Wednesday commenced hearing on the pleas saying the issue is “serious” and it cannot shut its eyes. The hearing will continue on Thursday.
Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner C.P Gotmare said the district administration has asked shopkeepers to clear their stocks or else it would be seized.
Some of the shops near highways have applied for relocation and the matter would be looked into by the Excise Department.
The verdict had come on a PIL alleging that nearly 1.42 lakh people died per year in road mishaps and drunken driving is a major reason.
It had also directed that all signboards of liquor vends will be prohibited along national and state highways.