Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
INTRODUCTION
On March 25th, Prime Minister imposes Lockdown 1.0 which one of the most extensive lockdowns ever seen anywhere in the world. The regulations imposed mean that no citizen would step outside his/her home and will remain to stay indoors. People were only allowed to step outside when they have need of essential supplies for which government ration shops and other shops still remained open for an extremely limited time. Moreover, these shops were strictly guided to follows social distancing norms where only certain people were allowed inside in a single time, while others will have to remain to wait for their turns.
So suddenly, due to lockdown imposed, the economy comes to a stop because industrial activities were shut, shops were closed down and activities such as gyms, spa, stadiums, etc. all were prohibited. Hence, the question of economic activity was put to rest for the purpose of saving human lives.
ALCOHOL: THE GAME CHANGER
On May 4th, the game-changing decisions took effect regarding the opening of liquor shops in green zones. These instructions were received as per the Union home ministry’s notification. In fact, there was a lot of pressure on union and state governments to looks upon the open matter of liquor shops because people were unable to consume it for the last 40 days. But if we looked at it from the state government’s opinion there is particular reason for the opening liquor stores in the current pandemic situation.
The first ingredient which pointing directly is GST tax which can only be applied when people avail certain basic services and purchased goods. But, during so the lockdown period considered all shops closed except those who provide essential services like milk, ration and photocopy shops. Also, people prohibited themselves from leaving their homes and if they did were punished under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
COURT’S DECISION ON ALCOHOL SALE
When news of alcohol shops viral for re-opening but on other hand cases instituted by lawyers who stated towards the opening of these shops would lead to pandemic increased because there will be thousands of people lined up at stores for buying liquor and non- following of social distancing norms. Also, some lawyers pressurized towards no need to open alcohol shops at various states in the current situation. One of the cases instituted in Madras HC was B. Ramkumar v Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu, and Ors. whereas the plaintiff (lawyer) argued for the non-opening of alcohol shops due to fear of spreads disease. The court stated, “ balance of revival of economic activity and management of COVID has needed to be maintained by state authorities and it’s not within the domain of court to interfered the same.” The court dismissed the case stating the decision of states being a policy matter. But the court did not issue any guidelines towards the need to followed by consumers and shops selling alcohol.
Suspension of IBC Provisions: Need for a Balanced Approach
Once liquor shops opened the sudden boom can be sawed in the economy of states. In fact, states earned a lot of money during the first few days of sale. The numbers were extremely promising such as 500 crores earned on the first day of sale in Kerala. But due to long ques seen and violation of social distancing norms, the government decided to shut down liquor shops after a few days of opening. But now the government has opened such shops with an increase in prices. But people still willing to purchased bottles with a hike in prices and states can recover such resources little bit. Hence it all looks like the win-win game on either side.
CONCLUSION
We can conclude that alcohol is important to the source of revenue especially during lockdown time because all provide people with access to beverages and on another hand it provides state government with funds to survive. But problems highlighted above are of very serious nature and must be dealt with very urgency mannered. Sale of alcohol must be prohibited and to countered such smuggling problem, the states may form committees that decide excise duty needs to be applied during the pandemic as one- time measure. This will reduce pressure on police and will allow them to focus more on important assignments.
86540
103860
630
114
59824