Telangana High Court reserves orders on liquor license deadline extension case

The Telangana High Court has reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the State’s extension of the liquor shop licence application deadline. Petitioners argue the move violates Excise Rules, while the government defends it as a policy decision prompted by a bandh. The Court clarified that applications submitted during the extended period will be subject to its final ruling.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice N. Tukaramji of the Telangana High Court on Saturday reserved orders on a batch of writ petitions challenging the State government’s decision to extend the deadline for submission of applications for retail liquor (A4) shop licences for the 2025–27 license period.

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The petitions, filed by D. Venkateshwara Rao, Shravan Kumar Goud, Manjeet Singh Bagga, Harinderpal Singh Banga, Sukkan Singh Oshan and others, questioned the validity of the Memo dated October 18, 2025, issued by the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise, which extended the last date for receiving applications from October 18 to October 23.

Importantly, the Bench clarified that the applications received during the extended period from October 19 to 23 would be subject to the outcome of the final order. However, it declined to stay the ongoing lottery and allotment process for liquor shop licenses.

During Friday’s hearing, the Court had questioned whether the Excise Rules required the authorities to accept only those applications received before the notified deadline.

Continuing arguments on Saturday, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Imran Khan defended the government’s decision, stating that the manufacture and sale of liquor were entirely under the control of the State and that citizens cannot claim any fundamental right to engage in such trade.

He submitted that the extension of the deadline was a policy decision taken by the government in its administrative discretion and that courts should refrain from interfering unless the action is patently unconstitutional or illegal.

The AAG also explained that the extension was granted due to the bandh called by BC associations and supported by several political parties on October 18, to ensure no applicant was inconvenienced.

He further argued that two of the petitioners themselves Manjeet Singh Bagga and Sukkan Singh Oshan had submitted their applications on October 23, the extended date, and therefore could not now question the very extension under which they applied. He urged the Court not to issue any interim directions that would obstruct the ongoing licensing process.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Avinash Desai contended that the government’s action violated the Telangana Excise (Grant of License of Selling by Shop and Conditions of License) Rules, 2012. He argued that once the last date of October 18 had expired, extending it through a memo was illegal and beyond the powers conferred under the rules.

He added that each application involved a non-refundable fee of Rs 3 lakh, and by allowing fresh applications after the cut-off date, the government had diluted the fairness of the process and reduced the existing applicants’ chances in the draw.

After hearing both sides, Justice Tukaramji observed that the core issue before the Court is whether applications received after October 18 can be legally considered. The Court reserved its verdict and made it clear that the fate of applications submitted during the extended period would depend on its final orders.