PANJIM: All those who sell and serve alcohol along the highways, a big community of anxious liquor traders, have their hearts and their futures hinged on Friday’s expected Apex court judgement, about their fate.
The judgement, expected on the last day, after which licenses of at least 789 and possibly close to 4000 liquor businessmen, may not be renewed. If that happens, livelihoods are likely to plunge into uncertainly. And tourism in Goa as well.
The Supreme Court will pronounce its order on petitions seeking modification to its December 15, 2016 order on banning liquor sale along the highways.
“Let us wait and watch. Our situation is as if we are standing on a stool with a rope hung around our neck,” said an anxious president of All Goa Liquor Traders Association, Dattaprasad Naik.
Although wholesalers and bar owners, as per the Goa government circular, have been exempted from the ban, they too have set their eyes on the SC decision expected to be pronounced on Friday. Legal representative of the liquor association and the All Goa Bar & Restaurant Owners Association, Advocate Amit Palekar, said the government will still have avenues open if the order hits the business.
“The State government took a proactive step by exempting wholesalers and bars, after a legal opinion from experts. If the SC orders bringing all liquor vends, including the two categories under the purview of its previous order, then it is left for the government to decide its future course of action,” he told Herald, adding that the government will still be able to explore ways by which to ensure the livelihood of Goan families are not affected.
“The State can either file a review petition or change the policy. Various avenues will be open and it has to be looked into,” he added.
There have been a number of liquor outlets, one of the traders told Herald which exist before Goa’s liberation and the construction of highways.
The bench is expected to pronounce its order on Friday, after it completes hearing the petitions filed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Telangana and All Assam Indian Made Foreign Liquors Retailers’ Association seeking modification of its order directing closure of all liquor vends operating within 500 metres of the national and state highways.
