New Delhi: One thing is changing for the liquor shops and their customers in Delhi from tomorrow i.e. from 1st October. From tomorrow, private liquor shops in the national capital will remain closed for one and a half months. Private liquor shops constitute about 40 per cent of the total liquor shops in the national capital. Under the New Excise Policy of the Delhi Government, all 850 liquor shops, including 266 private liquor shops, have been given to private companies through open tender. The new license holders will start retailing liquor in the city from November 17. However, during this period, government liquor shops will remain open for retail sale of liquor. These government shops will be closed on November 16.
An official of the Excise Department said that state-run liquor shops have been asked to ensure adequate storage in view of the likely increase in demand.
New Excise Policy of Delhi Government
The issue of New Excise Policy, 2021 with the Delhi government has also been raised in the Delhi High Court. The High Court on Wednesday said that the Delhi government has the power and jurisdiction to implement the New Excise Policy, 2021. At the same time, the court refused to stay the closure of retail shops with L-7 license for the sale of Indian liquor in the private sector under the old policy from 30 September.
A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh while considering the application of one such license holder Ratan Singh to stay the closure of these shops said that prima facie no rights have been violated by the new mechanism. . The application was part of a petition seeking extension of licenses to other categories under the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act.
“Prima facie, the respondent has all the powers to frame a new excise policy under the Delhi Excise Act, 2009 and its rules and it is within the jurisdiction of the government,” the court said. The court said that the public at large will not suffer due to the closure of shops as other categories of liquor shops will remain open. “There are different types of licenses from L-1 to L-35 for different purposes… Public at large is not going to face any problem,” the bench said. Other licenses will continue. The court said that under the new policy, 260 out of 849 shops have L-7 and L-10 licenses (retail sale of Indian and foreign liquor).
