Court criticizes Chandigarh Excise Department for delaying the owner of a liquor firm’s request
Chief Judicial Magistrate Dr. Aman Inder Singh Sandhu has chastised the UT Excise Department for failing to act upon an application from a liquor company owner requesting authorization to move unsold inventory from one industry to another.
The Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC) was ordered by the court to make a decision on the case within three days, noting that a person cannot be harassed based only on technicalities. The court went on to say that early action in these cases is necessary to prevent unnecessary losses and nuisance for the residents. The applicant must be informed of the decision made and a copy must be given to the court very away, per the court’s directive.
A business owner applied for the release of impounded alcohol under Section 457 of the CrPC via attorney Vivek Kathuria. It was said that the applicant received a license for the retail sale of country liquor in Sector 35-B under the Excise Policy 2023–24. He leased a SCO for the task. He sought for a license under the Excise Policy 2024–25 once again, and this time it was granted for a unit in Sector 22–C.
The applicant said that he informed the AETC by letter dated March 28 and requested the issuing of a permit allowing the business to move its remaining alcohol from Sector 35-B to Sector 22-C. However, he never received anything on the status of his application.
Following hearing the arguments, the court declared that the AETC was legally required to determine the application in accordance with the UT’s regulations. Dealers lose money and experience needless hassle when they procrastinate on an application. The court noted that the AETC was instructed to rule on the application in accordance with relevant laws and regulations within three days as a result. The case hearing was postponed by the court until April 24.
