The Delhi High Court recently directed the Delhi government’s Department of Excise to decide within 2 weeks on the application by Pernod Ricard India (PRI) for an L1 license to supply liquor in the national capital.
Justice Prathiba M Singh ordered the government to pass a reasoned order on the application.
Pernod Ricard India is the Indian subsidiary of French wine and spirits firm.
Furthermore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested one of its executives, Benoy Babu, in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy Scam.
In its plea before the High Court, Pernod Ricard stated that it applied for the L1 license in August 2022 for 2 of its manufacturing units. However, the excise department failed to decide on the applications.
The Court also told that in September 2022, the excise department even issued a letter approving the grant of license to the firm but no action was taken pursuant to this letter.
The plea stated that in fact, the excise department directed PRI to submit police verification certificates (PVC) under Section 13(c) of the Excise Act, 2009 within 3 days, even though such a condition is usually imposed after the grant of the L1 License.
Furthermore, it contended that the company complied with all conditions laid down by the excise department and even submitted the PVCs as directed by them, yet the application for a license remained pending.
The plea read that “The inaction and inordinate delay on part of Respondent No. 2 is unreasoned and arbitrary and infringes on the Petitioner’s fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India.”
Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal appeared for the petitioner. He was assisted by the Trilegal team comprising Anuj Berry, Anusha Ramesh, Saurav Rajurkar, and Neharika Modgil.
