The Uttarakhand High Court has struck down the state government’s directive to shut down departmental liquor stores in Haridwar and Rishikesh, which was slated to begin on March 31, 2025. The bench—led by Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Alok Mahra—found the closure under Excise Rule 17B to be “invalid and arbitrary.” Petitioners argued that while departmental stores were being targeted, bars continued operations in the same zones, making the ban discriminatory. They presented bar purchase receipts to bolster their claim. The Court also instructed the state to address pending representations from departmental store owners within four weeks, as reported today by Times of India.