Liquor licence to Spencer outlet stayed

Justice M S Ramachandra Rao of the High Court at Hyderabad on Wednesday stayed the action of the Telangana State Excise Department to grant licence to four outlets of Spencer Group to sell liquor.

The judge was dealing with a petition by S Dhananjay Reddy and six other retail wine dealers of the city.

The petitioners questioned the action of the Commissioner Prohibition and Excise Department directing the Deputy Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise of Ranga Reddy district to grant licence to Spencer Retail Ltd to run four retail outlets.

It was the case of the petitioners that though there was no provision under the Telangana Excise Act.