Fresh auction for allotting 1140 liquor shops in Haryana:SC

New Delhi, Jun 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Haryana government to hold fresh auction for the allotment of 1140 liquor vends in the state.

A Vacation bench comprising Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice C K Thakker also directed that the present allottees of 993 liquor shops in the state continue till July 31.

The state shall hold fresh auction of the shops before July 31 and shall refund proportionate license fee to the present allottees in case they fail to get the allotment in the fresh auction, the court directed.

Today's order came on a bunch of petitions challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order quashing the allotment of 993 liquor vends which were allotted by the state government without inviting fresh bids for the allotment of the liqour shops.

It may be noted here that in the earlier auction, no party had come forward for taking 1140 liquor shops and the state government allotted 993 liquor shops on the basis of negotiations with those who approached the state government to take these shops. 147 liquor shops were yet to be allotted.

The petitioners challenged the High Court order on the ground that no illegality was involved in the allotment process as they had been allotted the shops for which there were no takers at all.

The court, however, felt that it will be in the interest of justice to go for fresh auction for maintaining transparency and fairness in the entire allotment process.

UNI AKS/SC PK HS1225