Chandigarh, April 4: Liquor vends across Chandigarh resumed operations on Thursday after the Supreme Court set aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that had barred new allottees from commencing business until April 3.
The high court had imposed a status quo on March 26 following petitions challenging the UT excise department’s tendering process. As a result, liquor shops under the 2025–26 excise policy were not allowed to open, while those under the expiring policy were to cease operations by March 31.
With the apex court overturning the stay, the administration permitted the new licensees to begin operations. Under the 2025–26 policy, 96 out of 97 units had already been auctioned on March 21, fetching ₹606 crore—36% higher than the ₹439 crore reserve price.
The case remains pending in the high court, where a bench of Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Alok Jain was scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday. However, the hearing was deferred after one of the judges recused, and the matter is now listed before a different bench on Friday.
The petitioners have alleged irregularities in the auction process, claiming that a single family and its associates secured 87 of the 96 auctioned vends. They have asked the court to examine the fairness of the bidding system.
“The tenders must ensure fair competition. The pattern of allotment suggests serious anomalies,” said one of the petitioners on condition of anonymity. The high court is expected to take up the matter on merit in the next hearing.
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