The Supreme Court on Friday suggested that it was for the states to explore the idea of “home delivery” and “indirect sale” of liquor to avoid the large-scale chaos in the wake of the Centre’s decision allowing the sale of alcohol from May 1.

The court told advocate Sai Deepak, appearing for petitioner Guruswamy Natraj, that it would not pass any order for home delivery as the matter has to be considered by the respective states. The court declined to entertain the plea for quashing the government’s decision to permit the sale of liquor as being illegal and unconstitutional.

“We will not pass any order. States should consider indirect sale or home delivery of liquor to maintain social distancing,” Justice Ashok Bhushan, heading a bench that also had Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B.R. Gavai, observed.

The petitioner had apprehended further spread of the pandemic due to the massive public gatherings to purchase liquor. “News reports regarding the situation at liquor vends/shops have come from various parts of the country, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. The news reports indicate that social distancing norms at and around the liquor vends/shops are being given a complete go-by in these areas, leading to alarming situations,” the petition had said.