SC finds nothing wrong in de-notifying highway stretches near Karnataka bars

In a big relief to the bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels in Karnataka, the Supreme Court has found nothing wrong with the government seeking to de-notify stretches of National Highways that pass through city municipal limits.

When these highway stretches would be de-notified, these pubs and bars would be able to resume serving alcoholic beverages, which they have stopped since July 1, incurring heavy losses.

Supreme Court’s decision to not allow any outlet within a distance of 500 metres from national highways had impacted around 340 pubs and bars.

On its contrasting thoughts about the sale of alcohol near highways, the SC has clarified that with the initial order, it had meant to prevent drunken driving on national highways, and that the municipal or district roads were never its target.

It added that the government is free to denotify such roads that were once notified but no longer serve as highways.