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2017 (5) TMI 1657 - PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURTQuashing of clause 9.5.1.2 of the excise policy and to set aside the notice dated 17.03.2017 inviting tenders - Validity of appointment of respondent No.3 as an exclusive L-1BF licensee - Haryana Liquor License (Amendment) Rules, 2017 - Held that:- The Financial Commissioner had the power to make rules regulating the number of wholesale licences in the State of Haryana as a composite whole. It did so by making rule 24(i-eeee), which prescribes that there would be only one wholesale licence for the State of Haryana. The Financial Commissioner has by the impugned provisions in the policy and the rules protected the revenue by providing for a single wholesale licence. He cannot be faulted for that. The total revenue including licence fees and the levies under the Act in the previous Excise Year 2016-17 was only about ₹ 22 crores, whereas, under the present policy, the revenue already generated is over ₹ 62 crores - This brings us to the petitioners’ apprehension. It was submitted on behalf of the petitioners that the amended rule and the stipulation in the policy that there would be only one wholesale licence in the entire State of Haryana adversely affects the rights of the petitioners and those similarly situated. The prejudice, according to them, is that that the sole wholesaler can pick and choose and dictate commercial terms at will. If there were more licensees the competition would safeguard the sellers and buyers interests as well. The State, we will presume, even in the trade and business of liquor must act fairly and impartially and not arbitrarily. We will presume that in granting liquor licences and permits the State cannot adopt a pick and choose policy and must throw the field open to all those who are otherwise eligible. In the present excise policy, the State has permitted every eligible party to bid. It has not discriminated against or in favour of any party. The essential criteria for the appointment of the wholesaler is the value of the bid - The challenge to the policy and to the rule on the ground that the appointment of a sole wholesaler in respect of an L-1BF Licence would adversely affect the commercial interests of those who he deals with or those who must deal with him, such as, the petitioners is not well founded. As we noted earlier, theoretically it is possible that the commercial interests of certain dealers and manufacturers will be affected, in as much as, the sole wholesaler will have the choice of who it would deal with. The sole wholesaler would also be entitled to grant better facilities to some of the dealers. That, however, would not render the policy illegal - The contractor is not bound to consider the application of every party for the supply of material required for the construction of the buildings. The contractor is entitled to obtain the material from such parties as it desires and on such terms and conditions that the contractor desires. The suppliers of the material would not be entitled to compel the contractor to afford them an opportunity of supplying the material. The rules of the game that apply to a State or an instrumentality of the State do not apply to such contractors. The State is entitled to deal in liquor to the exclusion of all others. We will presume that when it parts with its privilege it is bound to consider the claims of all the parties who are eligible to acquire this privilege. Once the State parts with this privilege and vests it in a private party, the rules of the game that apply to the State cease to operate. The licensees are thereafter entitled to operate the licences as they please so long as they do not violate any provision of law and so long as they abide by all the terms and conditions of the licences. The State Government may impose conditions upon the licensees. However, so long as the State does not place any such restriction, the licensee is entitled to procure the stock from and sell it to any party and on any terms and conditions, save those stipulated in the policy or the licence. Petition dismissed.
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