SC orders awaited, UT seeks time

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

The Supreme Court orders on liquor vends awaited, the Chandigarh Administration has sought additional time. As the case came up for resumed hearing, UT senior standing counsel Survir Sehgal submitted: “Though the issue has been adjudicated by the apex court, the orders are not available”.

Taking note of the assertion, a Division Bench of the High Court adjourned the hearing for two weeks. The Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal also directed continuation of the interim order. The court, on June 14, had directed that the final decision would not be taken on the basis of a notice, till the next date of hearing only. On July 4, the Bench had ordered continuation of the interim order while clarifying that “unless the interim order is specifically extended on the next date of hearing, it shall cease to operate thereafter”.

The petitioner, Vault Liquor Pvt Ltd, had earlier contended that the UT, without the Supreme Court order clarifying that the distance must be measured as the crow flies, had on its own added the feature, which would result in cancellation of the licences of the petitioners and others like them.

The UT had made it clear that the aerial, and not driving, distance from the national highway would determine the location of a liquor vend.

An affidavit filed before the High Court, among other things, said the issue was discussed threadbare during a high-level meeting. The Bench was told that it was decided during the meeting that the aerial distance system would be adhered to while allowing the location of liquor vends, or any other licence. The same procedure would be followed while allowing renewal of licence. The Bench was also told that the manner of calculation using the aerial distance was most scientific and fair as opposed to motorable distance because of Chandigarh’s peculiar character.