LODHA, J. -
(1.) THIS writ petition is directed against order dated
27.7.11 of the District Excise Officer, Nagour, whereby the license issued in favour of the petitioner under the provisions of Rajasthan Excise Act, 1950 (in
short "the Act") and the Rules made thereunder for retail sale of country liquor
and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) for local area comprising Gram
Panchayat, Deh (Nagaur), for the period 1.4.11 to 31.3.12, stands cancelled.
The petitioner has also challenged the condition No. 8.6.3 of the license and
circular dated 14.7.11 (Annex. 8) issued and by the Commissioner, Excise,
Rajasthan, directing all the Additional Commissioners, Excise Zone and
District Excise Officers to cancel the license in cases where after due inquiry,
the dealer is found guilty of selling the liquor for the price exceeding
maximum retail price. Besides, the advertisement inviting application for grant
of fresh license of the liquor shop operated by the petitioner for the remaining
period i.e. 1.8.11 to 31.3.12 is also impugned in this petition.
(2.) THE relevant facts in nutshell are that the petitioner was granted a license by the respondents authorising her to sell the country liquor as well as
IMFL, in the group area Gram Panchayat, Deh (Nagaur). The petitioner
deposited the guarantee amount, the license fee for sale of country liquor and
also deposited composite fee for sale of IMFL. The licence issued in favour of
the petitioner contains inter alia the condition No. 8.6.3 which reads as under:-
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On 21.7.11, the petitioner's business premises was inspected twice, firstly, by the Excise Inspector and they by the Special team from the office of
Additional Excise Commissioner, Ajmer Zone, Ajmer. During the first
inspection made, certain contravention of the conditions of the licence such
as non availability of the stock register and inspection register, the salesman
being not in proper uniform etc. were found. It is alleged that during the
second inspection made by the Special team, the salesman was found selling
the liquor at the price exceeding MRP in violation of the condition No. 7.5 and
8.6.3 of the license and circular No. 64 issued by the Excise Commissioner.(3.) THE petitioner was served with two notices, one being No. SP1-1 dated 22.7.11 issued by the Excise Inspector, Circle Nagaur for alleged violation of the provisions of Section 58(c) of the Act in respect of the illegalities,
irregularities noticed during the first inspection made by him and another
being No. 901 dated 22.7.11 issued by the District Excise Officer, Nagaur in
respect of the case registered for sale of the liquor at the price exceeding MRP
in violation of condition No. 7.5 and 8.6.3 of the license and circular No. 64
issued by the Commissioner, Excise, Rajasthan. The present matter relates to
the second notice issued as aforesaid whereby the petitioner was directed to
remain present in the office of the District Excise Officer on 26.7.11 to submit
her explanation, if any.;