No liquor shops on national, state highways: Supreme Court

New Delhi: In an important development, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that liquor shops located along the national and state highways across the country will have to shut shop by March 31, 2017.

The apex court ruling came in response to a petition that had sought closure of such vends as they are the main reason behind growing incidences of drunken driving.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur directed that no new license be issued for opening of liquor vends along the highways. 

The Supreme court, however, said that they can operate till period they were having their licenses. No renewal of their licenses would be made.

The court said that liquor vends will have to be located atleast 500 meters away from such highways.

Setting a deadline for the exercise, the court said that existing licenses for vends on highways will only be valid till March 31.