Petition Filed In High Court Over Liquor Shop Tender Deadline Extension
liquor shop tender | Hyderabad, Oct 24: A petition has been filed in the Telangana High Court challenging the government’s decision to extend the tender submission deadline for liquor shops till Thursday.
The court is scheduled to hear the matter on Friday. The petitioner has questioned the legality of the move and brought to the court’s attention a similar case in Andhra Pradesh, where the High Court had struck down an extension as “arbitrary,” “contrary to rules,” and “against public interest.”
According to the petition, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had previously cancelled the orders that extended the liquor shop tender deadline in that state.
Extension of liquor shop tender date challenged as arbitrary
The petitioner argued that the same principles apply to the Telangana case, alleging that the extension of the tender submission date lacks transparency and violates procedural guidelines governing such tenders.
The controversy stems from the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department’s decision to extend the last date for filing applications from October 18 to October 23. The department claimed that the extension came after receiving several requests from officials.
However, applicants who had already submitted their forms before the original deadline protested the move. They fear that allowing more time for submissions could unfairly increase competition and potentially benefit select new applicants.
Several applicants are reportedly preparing to approach the High Court individually against what they see as an unequal decision that undermines the fairness of the tender process. They claim the government’s justification for the extension is vague and not backed by any lawful provision.
Petitioner cites Andhra HC order striking down similar decision
The petition seeks the High Court’s intervention to prevent the Excise Department from accepting applications submitted after the original deadline.
Legal observers note that the upcoming hearing will be crucial in determining whether the government’s extension stands or gets repealed, especially in light of the precedent set by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
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