A division bench of Chief Justice AK Mittal andJustice VK Shukla posted the next hearing to May 19, afterissuing the notice which is returnable in two weeks.
The petition was filed on a day the state governmentallowed reopening of shops in Madhya Pradesh, barring Bhopal,Ujjain and Indore under red zone.
"The petition filed by 30 liquor contractors fromvarious parts of the state sought either revision of the termsand conditions of their contract or recalling of the entirebidding process of liquor sale for the current fiscal in viewof the market situation (economic slowdown) arising out of theCOVID pandemic," said the petitioners' counsel Rahul Diwakar.
The terms and conditions of the license were based onnormal market conditions but the situation has changeddrastically now, he said.
"As per the clause 36 of the Excise Policy, the liquorlicensees are allowed to operate their shops between 9.30 amand 11.30 pm daily," stated the petition.
However, due to curtailment of timings since May 5, ithas become difficult for them to earn expected amount ofrevenue quoted in their bids, the counsel said.
The excise policy permits liquor contractors to runand operate retail shops, bars and 'ahatas' (low budgetdrinking vends usually attached to liquor shops), Diwakarsaid.
"However, in view of COVID-19 pandemic, bars and'ahatas' have been directed to remain shut which makes thelicensees to pay the fees every fortnight," he said.
Meanwhile, a liquor contractor told that they bagthe annual contracts to sell liquor through a biddingsprocess.
"We have to pay an annual licence fee which is incrores. We make part payment of the fee every fortnight," headded. CORR LAL MASNSK NSK