SC vacates stay on vend auctions
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — The Supreme Court today vacated the stay of proceedings before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on an appeal filed by the Punjab Government against the High Court order dated March 12 staying the confirmation of excise auctions in Punjab.

Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr Justice R.P. Sethi, who handed down this order, directed the High Court to decide the writ petition filed by Mr Satya Pal, a local wine contractor, challenging the auction of liquor vends of group Nos 113 to 117 of the Ludhiana excise circle.

In its order Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Agrawal of the High Court had observed in its order of March 12: "Mr Mohan Jain, counsel, has stated before us that the petitioners had made a bid higher than Rs 32.70 crore — Rs 33 crore. Yet their bid was not recorded and that a lower bid of Rs 32.70 crore made by Maan Singh and Company has been accepted in respect of the licences for group Nos 113 and 117 at Ludhiana. Counsel states that the petitioners are willing to pay Rs 35 crore for the aforesaid licences."

The Bench had also directed that till further orders the bids for group Nos 113 and 117 for the Ludhiana excise circle "shall not be finalised."

Mr Satya Pal, petitioner, before the High Court, had told the apex court on March 17 that if the High Court was not directed to decide the petition on merits before March 31, the petition would be rendered infructuous.

The Supreme Court directed that the matter be mentioned on March 18. And when the matter was mentioned, a request was made on behalf of the Punjab Government to adjourn the case for a day to enable it to seek further instructions.

The Supreme Court today took up the case at item No 1. After brief arguments the court disposed of the appeal.

Mr Justice Bharucha and Mr Justice Sethi held: "It shall now be open to the High Court to proceed to hear and dispose of the writ petition on merits."