Court authorizes the reopening of lottery outlets in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
The Rio de Janeiro Municipal Attorney General's Office (PGM) has suspended, in court, an injunction obtained by the Rio de Janeiro State Public Defender's Office preventing construction material stores and lottery shops from operating. The opening of these types of businesses is provided for in Municipal Decree 47.301/2020.
In her decision, Judge Maria Isabel Paes Gonçalves, of the Second Civil Chamber of the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro (TJRJ), highlighted that “the essential nature of the activity carried out by construction material stores lies in the nature of the products sold”. This is because such stores sell electrical and plumbing products, which are necessary for the repair of both private properties and other establishments that provide essential services. “It should be added that stores that sell such products also have materials commonly used in hospitals, such as alcohol gel, protective masks and cleaning products”, stated the judge.
Regarding lottery shops, Maria Isabel Paes Gonçalves said that “the suspension of some services ends up making it difficult, or even impossible, for the population, particularly those on low incomes, to access basic activities such as receiving social benefits, considering that not all of the poorest population has a bank account, with easy access to transactions via the internet”.
In the judge's view, lottery outlets are essential services, since the non-operation of these establishments will lead to an increase in demand at bank branches, raising the flow of people and consequent crowding.
