Supreme Court Stays Rajasthan High Court Order on Liquor Shops Near Highways

The Supreme Court has stayed the Rajasthan High Court's November 2025 order directing the removal or relocation of 1,102 liquor shops within 500 metres of national and state highways across the state. While acknowledging concerns over rising road fatalities linked to drunken driving, the Supreme Court noted the need for closer scrutiny of the sweeping order, which was issued via a public interest litigation without hearing affected parties. The Rajasthan government and petitioners argued the order overlooked prior Supreme Court rulings permitting liquor shops in municipal areas and raised practical implementation challenges. The matter remains under judicial consideration.