India, May 12 -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered the closure of 717 state-run liquor shops located within 500 metres of educational institutions and religious places across the state, to be implemented within two weeks.

According to an official release reported by The Hindu, of the 717 outlets identified, 276 shops are located near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions, and 255 near bus terminuses.

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which currently operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state, will carry out the shutdown as part of the new directive.

The move comes amid significant political developments following a major electoral shift in Tamil Nadu this year, where Vija...