New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government over its decision to reduce the minimum distance between liquor shops and sensitive public places, including schools, despite an earlier binding judgment of the court fixing a higher minimum distance.
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that the state's move appeared to amount to legislative overreach.
The court noted, prima facie, that the Uttar Pradesh government had attempted to dilute the effect of a binding Supreme Court judgment by amending the relevant rules without removing the basis of the earlier ruling.
"We are prima facie of the view that the state of Uttar Pradesh has overreach...