The Supreme Court of India has, on Friday, stayed the order of the Madras High Court which directed to shut down the TASMAC liquor shops in Tamil Nadu amid the nationwide lockdown, ANI News Agency reported.

According to the reports, the Supreme Court bench comprised of Justices Nageswara Rao, B R Gavai, and Sanjay Kaul had issued the order to stay the judgment of the Madras High Court, which on last week had ordered the state government of Tamil Nadu to close the TASMAC liquor shops by citing that the social distancing norms weren't followed while buying alcohol. 

The apex court took note of the petition of appeal moved by the Tamil Nadu government and passed the fresh order through which the liquor shops will likely be re-opened again amid the rampant spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state. ANI has reported that the additional conditions in the order of the High Court have also been stayed by the Supreme court. 

Appeal by Tamil Nadu Govt challenging Madras High Court's order directing to close all TASMAC liquor shops and only online sale of liquor in the state during COVID19 lockdown: Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court order. Additional conditions also stayed. pic.twitter.com/zw4aPldody

— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2020

Through the judgment, the state government would re-commence the operations of the TASMAC shops across the state as the liquor sale has been one of the major revenue channels to the state government. On May 7, the government had resumed the operations of the liquor shops after being shut down for over six weeks. The outlets across the state, apart from Chennai, were opened and the tipplers queued up before the shops to buy liquor. The Madras High Court had initially directed the state to open the liquor shops with ensuring that the social distancing norms are being followed. 

However, the move invited more criticisms from women and opposition parties as the resumption was feared to increase the spread. In the first two days of sales, the state government had banked the revenue of Rs 295 crore as the tipplers took a break from the social distancing norms. Petitions were moved again to the Madras High court to seek the directive to close the shops as the social distancing norms were breached. 

Upon the violation of the order, the High Court had directed the state government to close the liquor shops and it can sell the liquor online. After having been ordered to shut down the shops, the Tamil Nadu government has, on May 9, appealed to the Supreme court to challenge the high court's order and it stated that the closure of the TASMAC shops would cause grave loss to the government.

ANI News Agency reported that after hearing the petition of the Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme court has stayed the order of the Madras High Court. However, the state government is yet to issue fresh notification on the resumption of the TASMAC liquor shops.