New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Monday sought response of the Delhi government on two pleas by retail liquor vendors seeking to extend their licences in particular categories till November 16 in parity with other categories under the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act.
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Amit Bansal issued notice and asked the Delhi government to respond on an application filed by Delhi Liquor Traders Association.
The association, represented through senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, sought parity with other licence holders who have been granted extension till November 16, while these private retailers have been told that their licences will not be renewed or extended beyond September 30, in view of the new Excise Policy of Delhi.
A similar petition was also filed by by one Rattan Singh and the court asked the authorities to respond to it.
The court listed both the pleas for further proceedings on September 24, when other batch of matters challenging the tender process and the new Excise Policy are coming up for hearing.
The association, which claims to represent 143 licenced liquor traders in Delhi, has filed the present application in its pending petition in which it has contended that the New Excise Policy 2021 restores the ''Zamindari'' system abolished by the Constitution and facilitates a monopolistic cartel.