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Supreme Court stays Rajasthan HC order to remove liquor shops within 500m of highways
Rajasthan High Court ordered removal of 1,102 liquor shops within 500m of highways citing road safety. Supreme Court stayed the order.
Why It Matters
Balances road safety concerns from drunken driving against state revenue and implementation challenges from 2016 SC highway liquor ban.
Timeline
5 Events
Supreme Court stays Rajasthan HC order
November 26, 2025
Supreme Court stays the Rajasthan High Court order directing removal or relocation of liquor shops within 500m of highways.[7]
Rajasthan HC orders removal of 1,102 liquor shops
November 26, 2025
Division bench of Justices Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Sanjeet Purohit directs Rajasthan government to remove or relocate all 1,102 liquor outlets within 500m of highways within two months, bans visible signage, next hearing January 26, 2026.[1][2][6]
PIL filed in Rajasthan High Court
2023
Churu residents Kanhaiya Lal Soni and Manoj Nai file public interest litigation against liquor shops violating Excise Act near highways.[1]
SC modifies ban distance in small towns
March 31, 2017
Supreme Court reduces ban distance to 220m in municipal areas with population under 20,000 on highways.[3]
Supreme Court imposes nationwide liquor ban near highways
December 15, 2016
Supreme Court bans liquor shops within 500m of national and state highways to curb drunken driving, directs no license renewals after March 31, 2017.[3][5]