CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the sole government agency involved in procuring and selling Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), to consider within four weeks a plea to install closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in all bars attached to retail outlets in the State.
The first bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar gave the direction, while disposing of a PIL from K Balu, president of Advocates’ Forum for Social Justice.
Appearing party-in-person, Balu submitted that though Tasmac had issued circulars to a little over 6,100 shops not to sell liquor items to persons below the age of 21 years, the communication was not being adhered to. Persons manning the shops sell the products to all irrespective of their age, including school students.
Several illegalities were going on, both inside and outside the bars. Unhygienic foods items were being sold. Hazardous liquor was sold in some bars. Many bars were being kept open beyond 10 pm and opened much before the starting time of noon.
Rowdies, anti-social elements and criminals convert the bars as their den to plan crimes. Installation of CCTVs, connected to a network controlled by Tasmac and monitored by the DGP office will go a long way in preventing these, Balu said. In this connection, he sent a memorandum to the authorities concerned, but to no avail. Hence, the PIL, he added.