HC refuses to hear plea seeking cancellation of liquor licence

The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain a PIL seeking cancellation of licence issued to a liquor shop here on the ground that a school, temple, mosque and hospital are located near it.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said it had come across a similar plea earlier from which it gave the impression that these kinds of petitions were filed by rival groups.
It asked the petitioner organisation how does the liquor vending outlet affect it.
The petition, filed by a Delhi-based social organisation Satyamev Jayate Foundation, had sought the court's directions to the Delhi government and the excise commissioner for taking action in this regard.

However, during the hearing, the court was not inclined to issue any such direction and said the liquor shop must have obtained the licence in accordance with the law.
Sensing the mood of the court, the petitioner's counsel R K Saini agreed to the court's suggestion to withdraw the PIL and filed an amended plea with proper changes in his prayer.
The petitioner had termed the issue of licence as "grossly negligent, callous and deliberate inaction and abdication of public duty" on the part of the authorities.
However, the court said that everything must have been considered for issuance of the licence.