High Court Stays Chandigarh Liquor Vends Tendering Process, Issues Notice to UT Administration

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the maintenance of status quo on the liquor vends tendering process in Chandigarh while issuing a notice of motion to the Union Territory Administration for April 3.

The Bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Vikas Suri made a significant oral observation that allocating even 10 vends to a single entity was against the principles of the Competition Act, which seeks to prevent monopolistic practices, promote fair trade, and safeguard consumer interests.

The court’s observations came after submissions that a single family and their associates had secured 87 out of 97 liquor vends in Chandigarh through the recent tendering process. One of the petitions challenging the process was filed through advocate Bikramjit Singh Patwalia, while senior advocates Chetan Mittal and Puneet Bali presented arguments on the matter.

With this order, the existing liquor vends will continue operations until March 31, but the Chandigarh Administration cannot implement the newly awarded contracts until further directions from the court.

This development has sparked significant interest in the business and legal communities, as the case could have broader implications on fair competition in Chandigarh’s liquor trade.