In a recent development, the Allahabad High Court has requested the State authorities to clarify their stance on a contentious wine shop located near a temple in Ayodhya, particularly during the auspicious month of Shravan (Sawan).
The dispute arose from a plea questioning the licensing of a wine shop adjacent to the Shravan Shram Mandir Khiharan in Milkipur, Ayodhya. The petitioner contended that the shop’s location was causing significant discomfort to devotees during this holy period.
A previous complaint to the Deputy Excise Commissioner of Ayodhya had been dismissed, citing potential revenue losses for the excise department as a reason for keeping the shop open.
The court, presided over by a Bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Prakash Singh, reviewed the documents submitted and directed the authorities to provide a detailed account of the measurement methods used to determine the distance between the temple and the wine shop. According to regulations, there should be a minimum of 100 meters between a temple and a liquor outlet.
However, discrepancies arose regarding the measurement’s starting point, leading to confusion over whether the required distance was met. The court has now asked for a clear explanation, including measurements from both the old and new gates of the wine shop to the temple’s boundary wall.
The State authorities are to submit a personal affidavit from the District Excise Officer, Ayodhya, along with relevant photographs and details of the measurement process.
Advocates Satish Kumar Sharma and Harendra Singh represented the petitioner in this case.
