731 bars in Bengaluru get SC relief! May reopen as Apex court allows denotification of National Highways within cities
- With reference to a denotification hearing in Chandigarh, the SC allows states to denotify National Highways within city limits.
- Bengaluru's 731 pubs may reopen following this, since some of them are within city limits.
- Some of the pubs are the oldest in the city, which include Hard Rock Cafe, Pecos Mojo, 13th Floor, Wyt restopub and The Pub World.
FollowAmid chaos and commotions pertaining to bars and pubs shutting down at MG Road and Koramangala, this news comes as a reprieve for the 731 pubs within the city precincts. Owing to the SC directive to shut down pubs within 500 meters of a National Highway, some of the oldest restaurants were asked to stop serving alcohol. These included Hard Rock Cafe, Pecos Mojo, 13th Floor, Wyt restopub and The Pub World. Although the micro breweries were safe, night lovers in the city regretted the move, calling it the end of 'nightlife in Bengaluru'.
This could really have been the case had the SC not intervened again. This time, it allows states to denotify the national highways if these roads fall within the city limits. Refusing to interfere with the Punjab Government's denotifying move, a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud passed the order. In fact, Karnataka had also thought of taking this road, but SC said, "There is nothing wrong with denotifying highways if such roads are within a city. The purpose of its ban was to ensure high speeding vehicles on highways don't have drivers under the influence of liquor."
According to a report by the Deccan Herald, the bench further added, "There are no such issues when the roads are within the city. Denotifying such roads as Highways may have intelligible differentia."
The decision came into light when the apex court heard a plea against decision of the Chandigarh administration to denotify certain roads with a probable aim of “circumventing” its verdict, banning liquor vends within 500 metres from the state and National Highways. The hearing was deferred to July 11. While it was rejoiced by pub enthusiasts in Chandigarh, it was also celebrated in Karnataka, given the revenue places like MG road and Koramangala earned from their nightlife. It was also predicted that given the ban, the number of footfalls is likely to come down in some of the prime hotels in the city.
