In Brief
This judgment addresses interlocutory applications challenging a December 2016 Supreme Court order prohibiting liquor sales within 500 metres of national and state highways to curb drunken driving. The Court upheld the 500-metre distance as constitutionally sound, grounded in Union Government policy and road accident statistics, and rejected arguments based on varying state geographies and revenue loss. The Court clarified that liquor commerce lacks fundamental-right protection. Three narrow modulations were approved: reduced distance (220m) for municipalities under 20,000 people, extended compliance to 30 September 2017 for varying excise years, and terrain-based exemptions for Sikkim and Meghalaya. No exemptions for municipal areas or shops selling liquor were permitted, as these would defeat the road-safety objective.
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