In Brief
The Supreme Court ruled that a Haryana rule creating a single state-wide L-1BF license for imported foreign liquor was invalid. The majority held that the power to determine the number of liquor licenses in any area belongs exclusively to the State Government and cannot be delegated to the Financial Commissioner. The Financial Commissioner's amendment to Rule 24(i-eeee) thus exceeded its authority. A dissenting judge argued that the Financial Commissioner's general power to regulate liquor sales included setting state-wide licensing numbers. The majority's decision struck down the single-license monopoly regime, allowing the appeal.
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