The government of Delhi on Thursday assured the Delhi HC that it would not take any Coercive Action against liquor Retailers for non-payment of the license fee under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior Advocates Rahul Mehra\n& AM Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, furnished before the HC\nthat it will not trigger any coercive action against liquor retailers. After\nreceiving assurance from the Delhi government, Justice Rekha Palli adjourned\nthe matter for 15 November for further hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The assurance was shared verbally\nwhen the HC was hearing pleas by over various petitions challenging the\ngovernment’s decision to impose licence fees w.e.f 1 November 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plea was furnished by 16 petitioners, who are winning bidders of L-7Z* (refers to zonal license for retail sell of Indian-made as well as overseas liquor) & L-7V* (retail sell of Indian-made liquor<\/strong><\/a> & overseas liquor in a zone). The petitioners have pled to declare the state government’s decision to impose liquor fees as illicit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pleas also sought to\nprevent the state government from demanding licence fees or security deposits\n& also ordering the concerned authorities not to impose or seek license\nfees from the successful bidders until the state government addressed its\nobligations under the tender terms & the Delhi Excise policy 2021-2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Standing counsel of the State\ngovernment of Delhi Santosh Kumar Tripathi has also defended the new excise\npolicy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from assuring no\nCoercive Action against Liquor Retailers, the AAP government make the following\nclarifications before Delhi high court. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The state government has also\nstated that around 20 mainstream brands rule 80% of the market share in the\nIndian-made Foreign Liquor (aka IMFL) & 30 brands, including ten prominent\nbrands, have already secured MRP registration in all regards between 29.10.2021\n– 10.11.2021. These brands collectively dominate around 28 % of the total\nmarket share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Delhi government has also\nconfirmed to the court that 10 L1 licenses have applied for registration of\naround 78 brands as of 11 November & no legit application of brands is\npending as of date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, the state government\nhas also confirmed the 92 brands of overseas liquor have been examined &\nawaiting web-based application by the wholesaler & once legitly applied;\nthe process will be completed in not more than two days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government’s<\/em><\/strong>[1]<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/sup> decision to facilitate relaxation to liquor retailers for paying license is undoubtedly an appreciable one. This will allow the retailers to seamlessly initiate their business proceeding without worrying about the cumbersome license fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFurther clarifications made by Delhi Government before\nDelhi HC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Excise’s conditions regarding L-7Z and L-7V license fee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n