TASMAC customers can complain to police over excess charges: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has ruled that customers of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor shops can approach the police if salespersons demand or collect excess money while selling liquor. The order, passed on Friday (August 7, 2026), comes in response to a writ petition filed by advocate clerk G. Devarajan, who alleged that around 30 TASMAC shops in and around Chennai collected extra money from customers between 2022 and 2026.
TASMAC is a state-owned corporation that holds the exclusive right to retail liquor in Tamil Nadu. The petitioner’s complaint highlighted a recurring issue of overcharging at these shops, prompting the court to intervene.
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, who heard the matter, had previously issued an interim order directing TASMAC to ensure that every bottle of liquor sold at its retail shops is accompanied by a bill. On Friday, the court was informed that TASMAC had complied by issuing a circular on August 6, 2026, laying down detailed instructions for shop-level billing.
The circular states that every bottle of liquor sold at retail shops must be scanned using the hand-held devices provided to the outlets. It further mandates that customers must receive bills through electronic printers. The directive is unequivocal in its language: “Under no circumstance should liquor be sold without a bill.”
To ensure accountability, the circular makes it the responsibility of both shop supervisors and salespersons to see that every customer is issued a bill. It also requires barricades to be set up at retail liquor shops to maintain orderly queues, thereby ensuring a smooth sales process.
TASMAC has instructed its district managers to conduct surprise inspections to verify compliance. The corporation has also authorised disciplinary action against any shop supervisor or salesperson found guilty of violating the billing rule or collecting excess money.
After taking note of the circular, Justice Ilanthiraiyan directed that police personnel be deployed at retail liquor shops across Tamil Nadu to prevent untoward incidents. He further ordered that the petitioner’s complaint regarding past instances of excess collection be acted upon appropriately.
During the hearing, the judge emphasised that TASMAC must implement the circular “in letter and spirit.” He pointed to practices in other sectors and states, saying: “When supermarkets issue bills even for a single toothbrush and the State of Kerala ensures issuance of bills for the sale of liquor, why can’t it be done in Tamil Nadu?”
The ruling is seen as a step towards greater transparency in TASMAC’s operations and consumer protection. Customers who face overcharging can now formally lodge complaints at their jurisdictional police stations, potentially leading to legal action against erring salespersons.
