High Court orders status quo on Chandigarh liquor vends as plea claims one family got most licences

The petitioners challenged the allocation of liquor licenses in Chandigarh under the Policy 2025-26. The policy limits any single entity, including related partners or associates, to a maximum of 10 licenses to prevent cartelization. One of the petitioners alleged that a single family and its associates had secured 87 out of 97 liquor vends, effectively monopolizing the market. The petition claimed that the bidding process was rigged, as 12 cartel members avoided cross-bidding, leading to a loss for the state exchequer. The petitioner alleged that despite evidence submitted by an association highlighting the alleged manipulation, the authorities proceeded with the allotment, ignoring the policy’s anti-cartelization provisChandigarhliquourions. Hence, the petitioner approached the court for intervention.

A bench comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Vikas Suri ordered status quo while allowing petitioners to amend their writ petitions to challenge the constitutionality of the relevant statute and rules governing liquor vends in Chandigarh. The court recorded an assurance from the petitioners that they would not operate their liquor businesses beyond March 31, 2025.

“Insofar as the present writ claims are concerned, the parties are directed to maintain status quo in respect of the liquor vends for the year 2025-26, till the next date of hearing,” the bench ruled.

Senior advocates Chetan Mittal, Puneet Bali, and Sanjay Kaushal appeared for the petitioners, while Rajiv Atma Ram, Amit Jhanji, and Anil Mehta represented the respondents, including the Chandigarh administration.

The case has been listed for further hearing on April 3, with the court directing that it be placed at the top of the urgent list.