Just as the Delhi government exited the liquor business, making way for new private vends to begin operations under the new excise policy, a Delhi court has stayed the opening of a liquor shop in Delhi’s Janakpuri following a suit by the residents’ welfare association praying for restraining the opening of the liquor shop in the area.

The Civil Judge at Dwarka Courts, Vaishali Singh, issued summons in the matter and posted it for December 16, 2021, while observing that prima facie case has been made out in favour of the plaintiff association. The Court, thereby, restrained the liquor vend from being opened in the area till the next date of hearing.

It has been contended in the instant suit, filed through Advocates Abhimanyu Lall and Mohit Rana, that granting license to the liquor vend to open a store in the alleged residential area has created “fear and panic” in the mind of the residents that opening of the said liquor shop would cause nuisance to the residents of the place, as also to the general public.

The plaintiff association has further contended that the said liquor shop is situated in close proximity of eminent religious places, schools and public parks, and thereby could cause nuisance to the society.

In addition, it is alleged that allowing the liquor shop to open in a residential area would raise the risk of commission of a series of crimes, including robbery and chain-snatching, thus causing fear of insecurity and instability in the mind of the nearby residents.

Also Read: Rakul Preet Singh content: Delhi High Court defers TV Today Network plea against I&B Ministry order

“If the liquor store is open in the area then the residents of the peaceful society will have to deal with the spiked road rage cases because there is already a heavy scarcity of the parking areas for the residents them-self,”

-the plaint further states.

It is averred thus:

“The operation/running of a liquor vend is a security risk to the residents as a lot of anti-social elements gather around the liquor shop and cause nuisance to the residents of the area and it is not a good sight to watch so many people drinking in open in full public view.”