The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice on a petition challenging the Punjab Excise (Amendment Bill), which allows the sale of liquor at hotels, clubs and restaurants, located within 500 metres of state and national highways.
The amendment bill changes the definition of “sale of liquor”, therefore exploiting a loophole to sidestep the Supreme Court ban. The notice was issued by the Bench of Justice Anita Chaudhry and Justice HS Madaan, while the petition was filed by the president of the Arrive Safe Society of Chandigarh, Harman Singh Sidhu.
The petition alleges that the impugned amendment to the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, has been brought with the intention to “dodge” the Supreme Court Highway liquor ban.
The petition also states that the legislature cannot directly annul court judgments and challenges the bill, contending that it is an exercise of power that attempts “to hoodwink the ratio of the judgment” of the Supreme Court. It also demands a stay on the operation of the bill while the petition is still pending in court.