HC finds no fault in law allowing MSIL to open more retail liquor shops

The High Court of Karnataka has upheld the rules that allows the government-owned or controlled companies to operate retail liquor shops sans limitation fixed on the number of liquor shops based on po

The High Court of Karnataka has upheld the rules that allows the government-owned or controlled companies to operate retail liquor shops sans limitation fixed on the number of liquor shops based on population as per the provisions of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the Karnataka Excise (Sale of Indian and Foreign Liquors) Rules, 1968. The court said non-application of limitation of number of shops that can be established cannot be applied to government-owned companies like MSIL as the citizens have no fundamental right to do trade or business in intoxicating liquor and citizens have the right to carry on trade or business only subject to the limitation fixed by the State.