Delhi HC issues notice in petition challenging “Special Corona Fees” on the purchase of liquor in Delhi

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a petition challenging the “Special Corona Fees”, which is being levied on the purchase of liquor in Delhi. (Lalit Valecha vs Govt of Delhi).Notice was issued to the Delhi Government and Central Government by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar. .It is the Petitioner, Lalit Valecha's case that levying 70% fee over and above the Maximum Retail Price which is inclusive of all taxes, duties and levies, is without the authority of law and most arbitrary in nature..It is contended that by virtue of Section 26 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009 only four "excise revenues" could be collected under the Act i.e. duty, license fee, label registration fee and import or export fee. It is thus asserted that there was no mention of any kind of ‘special fee’ that could be imposed and included as part of excise revenue..The Petitioner has further argued that the order levying Special Corona Fee @ 70% of the Maximum Retail Price was only an "afterthought" and an "after-effect" of the overcrowding and mismanagement at liquor shops after they were re-opened..Special Corona Fee on Liquor imposed by Delhi Government: Is it legal?.Notice was also issued by the Court in three other petitions concerning the levy of Special Corona fees. .The matter would be heard next on May 29..Petitioner Lalit Valecha was represented by Advocate Manu Prabhakar. .Petitioner Praveen Gulati was represented by Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi with Advocate Bharat Gupta..Petitioner Nawal Mundhra was represented by Advocates Krishnesh Bapat and Samyak Gangwal..Petititioner Abhishek Garg was represented by Advocate Harsh Makhija, Onkar, Arjyadeep Roy..Standing Counsel Ramesh Singh, Additional Standing Counsel Gautam Narayan with Advoactes Dhananjay Mishra, Bhawana Kataria represented Delhi Government. .Standing Counsel Amit Mahajan represented UOI..Read the Order: