Karnataka HC issues Interim order on liquor vendors

Bangalore, Jun 29 (UNI) Mr Justice Mohanshantangowdar of Karnataka High Court today passed an interim order directing licensed retail vendors of Indian and foreign liquor to deposit e enhanced license fee as per the new notification for getting their licences renewed.

However it was made clear that the said payment of enhanced license fee was subject to the result of the writ petitions. The respondent authorities were directred to accept the application fee for renewal of licences till 1600 hrs on July 2.

The interim order made in a batch of separate writ petitions filed by M/s A.D.Kalal of Gadag and 54 other vendors from different places all over Karnataka challenging the notification enhancing the license fees by 100 per cent. This was highly arbitrary, excessive and unreasonable and oppressive, the petitioners contended and prayed the court to quash the impugned notification and direct the respondents to renew their licences by accepting the fee as prescribed earlier.

UNI