STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In two different petitions filed by Iqbal Kalra and Manmohan Kour challenging impugned order No. 161 EC of 2022 dated 23.08.2022 and impugned order No. 161 EC of 2022, dated 23.08.2022 for re-auction, Justice Javed Iqbal Wani of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court after hearing Adv Yaseer Ejaz Tak, stayed re-auction of the two liquor vends, both situated at Panchayat Jaganoo, Tehsil and District Udhampur. During course of hearing, Adv Y E Tak submitted that liquor vend license (JKEL-2) is issued only for a period of one year starting from April 3 to March 31. The person gets just nine months to recover his dues as three months’ time got lapse in getting shop on rent besides completing other necessary formalities. However, in present case, since petitioner was declared successful in re-auction bid and thereafter, fulfillment of various conditions and requirement for issuance of JKEL-2 license also took considerable time, however, when all the formalities were completed for the issuance of license, respondent instead of issuing the license passed the impugned order without proper application of mind by misconstruing provisions of J&K Liquor License and Sales Rules, 1984, as such, order impugned deserves to be quashed. The court, after hearing both sides, allowed the petition and stayed re-auction of both the wine shops.
