The Supreme Court on Friday ordered an interim stay against Madras High Court's decision to ban liquor sales in TASMAC outlets in Tamil Nadu. This stay order has been issued after an appeal was made by the Tamil Nadu government in the Apex Court. After a span of 43 days due to the nationwide lockdown, TASMAC shops in Tamil Nadu reopened on May 7 exempting adjacent areas of Chennai city (Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts) due to the sharp rise in the number of positive coronavirus cases.

The Supreme Court has also issued a stay order on the case proceeding in the Madras High Court. Due to the stay order issued by the Supreme Court, the ban imposed for the reopening of the TASMAC shops has been revoked. Tamil Nadu government states that financial transactions at TASMAC outlets are being carried out in digital mode. Liquor sales in TASMAC shops are being pursued under the express condition that customers should present Aadhar Card. With regard to online sales, state governments must take a decision, states Supreme Court. TN government has opined, online liquor sales at present is not possible for the time being. There has been a heavy monetary loss to the state exchequer due to the suspension of counter sales in the past few days.