The Rajasthan High Court has sharply criticised the state government for allowing liquor shops to operate close to highways, saying the state has turned major roads into “liquor-friendly corridors” despite a rise in fatal road accidents. The court has ordered the government to remove or shift 1,102 liquor shops that fall within 500 metres of national and state highways — and to do so within two months.
What the Court Said
A bench of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjeet Purohit said that no liquor shop should be operating within 500 metres of a highway, regardless of whether it falls in a municipal or rural area. The government can relocate these shops, but only to places that meet the distance rule.
The judges also ordered the state to ensure that no liquor-related advertisements, boards or signages are visible from highways, including after the shops are relocated.
Why the Court Stepped In
The ruling came while hearing a PIL filed in 2023 by two residents of Churu district, who alleged that many liquor shops were violating the Excise Act and rules.
The court noted an 8% rise in drunk driving cases in 2025. While Rajasthan recorded 40,715 cases in 2024, the number jumped to 43,788 by September 2025. The judges said this increase is not just a statistic—it reflects “serious and repeated threats to public safety and human life.”
Supreme Court Guidelines Ignored
The High Court pointed out that the Supreme Court had already set strict rules banning liquor shops near highways to improve road safety, though states were given limited flexibility. Rajasthan, however, failed to follow these rules “in the true spirit,” the court said, adding that the state had misused the discretion given to it.
Revenue Cannot Trump Safety
When the government argued that these liquor shops bring in ₹2,221.78 crore in revenue, the court firmly responded that protecting human life and public safety is more important than revenue, and reprimanded the government for letting highways effectively become alcohol-accessible zones.
