Sale or consumption of liquor is not a fundamental right, but a privilege and the state has the authority to regulate its sale, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government told the Delhi High Court on Thursday.
The Delhi government filed this reply against a batch of petitions challenging its 4 May notification levying 70% ''special corona fees'' on liquor in the capital.
The plea is likely to be heard on Friday. Excise duty on liquor is a state subject and accordingly, the state is also free to impose and recover a price for grant of such privilege, the affidavit filed by the AAP government said.
Due to the clamp down on all economic activities amid coronavirus outbreak, the revenue of Delhi government (which primarily comes from VAT/GST