Himachal Court Restores Distillery Licences After Invalid Excise Inspection

A Himachal Pradesh court on Tuesday declared that an excise inspection carried out without the presence of a prescribed police officer was invalid. The ruling came after the distillery’s licence was suspended following the inspection. The court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the licence, stating that the inspection violated procedural norms. The decision is expected to set a precedent for future excise inspections in the state. The distillery’s owners welcomed the ruling, citing the importance of fair enforcement.