CHENNAI: Residents of R V Nagar at Kodungaiyur shut down a liquor shop in their locality on Tuesday, after they found it to be less than 100 metres from a school.
The Madras High Court on August 27, 2015 ruled that the statutory requirement of maintaining a minimum distance of 100 metres from the compound wall of educational institution should be followed.
The liquor shop is at close proximity to Sri Sayee Vivekananda Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School as well as ECI Good shepherd church.
According to local residents, the outlet was a source of disturbance and hence, they sought shifting the shop earlier. “People who come to the liquor shop park vehicles on the narrow road, blocking traffic. Women are also harassed, leading to quarrels on the road,” says Bala Kannan, a resident.
Thanveer Ahmed, who runs a shop opposite the outlet, claimed, “There was an accident recently, when a man going to the liquor shop knocked down a school kid.”
On Tuesday, around 11 am, several residents gathered near the shop and prevented the shop from being opened and said they wanted to talk to TASMAC officials.
Police who reached the spot, claimed that the shop was located as per the distance condition laid down in law. However, a few residents took a measuring tape from a nearby construction area and showed the law enforcement personnel that the school’s rear gate was within 60 meters of the shop.
“The shop remained closed for the entire day as the TASMAC in-charge never came for negotiation with the residents,” said a police officer. He added, “We are expecting authorities to check the distance and then it will be decided if the shop should be closed.” Residents, on the other hand, said they have moved the High Court, seeking interim injunction against functioning of the shop.
TASMAC officials were not available for comment.