No bars on MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road: HC dismisses applications

The applications of 24 bar owners on Brigade Road, MG Road and Residency Road dismissed They had questioned the denial to renew the licence by the State Excise Department The Central Government has rejected the State government’s proposal to denotify 609.65 km highways within City

The Karnataka High Court dismissed, on Tuesday, the applications of 24 bar owners on Brigade Road, MG Road and Residency Road, including Fusion Lounge Bar and Restaurant on Brigade Road, questioning the denial to renew the licence by the State Excise Department, reports Kannada Prabha.

The bench headed by Justice Vineeth Kothari dismissed all applications filed by the bar owners. Supreme Court has ruled in the cases of Tamil Nadu government and K Balu not to permit bars and wine shops within the 500 meters from Highways. Quoting this ruling, the Excise Department had refused to renew licenses of all bars within 500 meters of highways running in the City limits. Meanwhile, the Central government has rejected the State government’s proposal to denotify 609.65 km highways at select spots within City limits. Hence, the bench said it cannot intervene and instructed the State government to renew the licences.

The Excise department had denied renewing the licenses of bars and wine shops within 500 km of MG Road, Brigade Road and Residency Roads, citing that they come under highways. The State government had submitted to the Central government to permit denotification of 609.65 km highways in parts, including 76.63 km on NH 4 and NH 7, which was rejected by the Central government.