The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to Delhi Government on a petition challenging the levy of 70 percent “special Corona fee” on the MRP of all liquor brands in the Capital.
A division Bench headed by the Chief Justice DN Patel & Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to Delhi Government and sought their response by May 29, on a petition which seeks to set aside the decision of the May 4 notification issued by the Delhi Government.
However, the Court has refused to grant any interim stay on the notification.
Learned Standing Counsel Mr Ramesh appearing for Delhi Government has accepted the Notice on behalf of the Administration and submitted that he file the detailed reply indicating that the levy was valid.
Valecha, a lawyer contended in his petition that a decision to impose special Corona fee in excess of what has been authorised by law and accordingly it is being collected arbitrarily.
It has also claimed the MRP of liquor in Delhi includes all taxes and duties that have been imposed by the Centre or the state government for production, transportation, wholesale and retail sale of the product and increasing the MRP by 70 per cent by means of an executive order was “illegal and bad in law”.
-India Legal Bureau