The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has temporarily paused the closure of 717 liquor outlets identified as operating within 500 metres of schools, places of worship and bus depots, following confusion over the exact distance of several shops from the restricted zones, as reported in The New Indian Express.
Soon after assuming office, the government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had ordered the immediate shutdown of TASMAC outlets functioning within the prohibited 500-metre radius. While around 150 shops were reportedly closed following the directive, the remaining closures have now been put on hold pending fresh verification.
Senior TASMAC officials told The New Indian Express that many of the outlets listed for closure had not undergone proper field-level inspection to determine whether they actually violated the prescribed distance norms. Officials stated that detailed measurements and verification exercises would now be carried out before any further action is taken.
During visits to areas including Velachery, Medavakkam, Thiruvanmiyur and Triplicane in Chennai, several TASMAC outlets were found to be functioning near temples, educational institutions and bus depots. However, authorities reportedly did not provide clarity on whether these outlets would ultimately be shut down or allowed to continue operations.
A district manager of TASMAC, speaking anonymously, stated that several liquor shops across Tamil Nadu were functioning within the restricted radius. The official further said that in some locations, local residents themselves had requested that the outlets be allowed to continue despite being within the prohibited distance.
Officials also acknowledged confusion in implementing the government order, stating that district authorities were not given sufficient time to conduct comprehensive ground inspections before preparing the closure list. As a result, district managers were said to have relied on available records and preliminary information while identifying shops for closure.
Meanwhile, concerns have emerged over the future of employees attached to the affected outlets. Trade unions warned that more than 1,000 workers could lose their jobs if the 717 outlets are permanently shut without rehabilitation or redeployment measures.
K Thiruselvan, general secretary of CITU (TASMAC), welcomed the government’s move to shut liquor outlets located near sensitive public spaces, but urged the administration to safeguard the livelihood of workers. He stated that the government had not yet provided any assurance regarding the redeployment of employees working in the affected shops and called for alternative postings in other departments.
T Dhanasekar, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu TASMAC Workers Association, also demanded job security for employees. He stated that TASMAC workers had been seeking government employee status and financial benefits for several years and expressed hope that the new government would address their long-pending demands.
Separately, in Mayiladuthurai district, TASMAC employees staged a two-hour protest by shutting 42 liquor outlets after police registered cases against staff members of three shops under the Prohibition Act for allegedly charging customers an additional ₹10 per bottle.
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