CM Vijay orders closure of 717 liquor shops near worship places, schools, bus stands in Tamil Nadu within 2 weeks

Within days of assuming the office as the Tamil Nadu chief minister, C Joseph Vijay today ordered the closure of 717 government-run TASMAC liquor retail sale outlets located up to 500 meters from places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands. According to the official notification, the closures must be carried out within two weeks.

Tamil Nadu Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) said in a post: “In the interest of public welfare, Honorable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. S. Joseph Vijay has ordered the closure within two weeks of 717 liquor retail sales outlets located up to 500 meters from places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands [sic].”

The notification read: “With the welfare of the general public in mind, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, has issued orders to close--within two weeks--717 retail liquor shops situated within a 500-meter radius of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands. Currently, 4,765 retail liquor shops are being operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation. From among these, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, issued directives to conduct a survey and identify those shops located within a 500-meter radius of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands. In accordance with the aforementioned order, it was identified that 717 retail liquor shops are currently operating within these three specified categories.”

CM Vijay had earlier ordered a survey of TASMAC liquor shops to identify those operating near places of worship, educational institutions and bus stands.

Although TASMAC liquor shops generate significant revenue for the Tamil Nadu government, there have been calls across party lines to close several of these retail outlets.

The TASMAC has also come under the probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Last year, the probe agency had conducted raids at multiple premises across Tamil Nadu in connection with alleged offences related to Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) and associated entities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

(With agency inputs)