Haryana liquor shops: SC suggests fresh tenders be ordered

New Delhi, June 6(UNI) The Supreme Court today suggested that fresh tenders may be ordered to be invited for allotment of about 900 liquor shops within two months in Haryana which have already been allotted to the allottees on the basis of negotiations held with the state government.

The suggestion came during the hearing of a bunch of petitions filed by allottees of such liquor vends whose allotment has been quashed by Punjab and Haryana high court on the grounds of process for allotment of these shops which remained unallotted as no bidder came forward for these shops at the time of auction and the same were allotted to those who failed to succeed during the auction.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and C.K. Thakker adjourned the hearing till June 7 after counsel for the parties sought time to seek instructions on the suggestion.

The petitioners have challenged the impugned high court judgment on the grounds that there was no illegality involved in the allotment of shops as none had come forward to take these shops during the auction. The state government allotted these shops to the petitioners after they approached the Haryana government for allottment of the shops which are 916 and the same have been allotted by the government in accordance with rules. Hence the high court judgment is liable to be set aside as it can neither be sustained on facts nor law.

The apex court has already stayed the operation of the impugned High Court order.

UNI AKS/SC RP BST1911