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Synopsis

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued notice to the Aam Aadmi Party Government while seeking it's response on the new liquor policy introduced by it reducing the price of liquor in the state.

A plea was filed by Akash Enterprises and others alleging that the government is planning to monopolize the liquor business in the state to a certain set of people.

It has been further alleged that the impugned policy is unjust and arbitrary.

Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu and Justice Vikas Suri was further told that the new policy eliminates the interests of the marginalized wholesalers/retailers for L-1 and L-2 licenses.

The division bench was also told that the amendment to the policy gives sole authority to the Excise Commissioner to increase the upper limit of 5 retail groups that can be granted to any one entity.

In order to promote its goal of giving control of the liquor sector to a select few competitive bidders, the Punjab Government also published a corrigendum that expanded the number of retail groups that can be assigned to an organization from three to five, the plea submits.

High Court has thus sought response from the state government clarifying as to why the impugned policy should not be stayed and issued notice to the State Government.