By Admin 
Rajasthan High Court has adopted a strict stance regarding the liquor vends running on the national and state highways of the state. The bench of Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjit Purohit has given strict instructions that all the liquor vends within 500 meters of the highway should be removed. The court has given two months time to the state government to remove or relocate these 1102 liquor shops.
The state government had argued in the court that these 1102 shops located on the highway fall in urban or municipal areas, from which the government gets a revenue of about Rs 2221.78 crore. But the High Court rejected this argument outright. The court said that the orders of the Supreme Court cannot be flouted in the name of urban limits. Making a scathing comment, the court said that the government has misused the classification of ‘municipal area’ and made the highway a ‘liquor-friendly corridor’, which is not acceptable.
HC expressed concern regarding road accidents
In its order, the court expressed deep concern over the increasing road accidents in the state. The court mentioned the horrific accidents that took place in Harmada (Jaipur) and Phalodi, in which 28 people lost their lives in just two days. The court said that drunk driving and over-speeding are the main reasons for these accidents. Statistics show that in 2025, there will be an increase of about 8% in ‘drunk and drive’ cases.
- Mandatory radius of 500 meters: No liquor shop will operate within a radius of 500 meters of the National and State Highway, even if it is in the municipal area.
- 1102 shops will shift: The government admitted that there are 1102 such shops on the highway. These will have to be compulsorily removed within 2 months.
- Advertisement also banned: There will be a complete ban on liquor advertisements, hoardings and sign boards visible from the highway. If found so, strict action will be taken.
- Life is bigger than revenue: The court said that the right to life is fundamental under Article 21 of the Constitution. People’s safety cannot be put at stake just to earn revenue.
When is the report to be submitted?
The compliance report of the case will have to be presented to the Excise Commissioner by 26 January 2026 for the next hearing.
What is the argument of the petitioner?
Advocate M.M. appeared on behalf of petitioner Kanhaiya Lal Soni and others. Dhera advocated. He told the court that the Supreme Court’s ‘K. Despite the decision of the ‘Baalu’ case, the Excise Department allotted contracts on the highways by distorting the rules, due to which the accidents are increasing.
He said, “Highways cannot be allowed to become centers of liquor sales by ignoring road safety and public safety. If every highway is exempted by treating it as an ‘urban area’, then the very purpose of the Supreme Court order will be defeated.”