Representational image. File | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
A writ petition has been filed in the Madras High Court challenging the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise’s 2022 circular with respect to empty liquor bottle buyback scheme in Tamil Nadu. The petition claims the circular had led to the latest increase in the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of liquor bottles by imposing an environmental and social welfare cess of ₹10 per bottle with effect from November 1, 2026.
The plea is expected to be heard by Justice N. Senthilkumar on November 12, 2026. An association of FL2 (non-proprietory clubs which sell liquor to its members) and FL3 (star hotels which sell liquor in their bars/serve it to their customers in the hotel rooms) licencees in the State had approached the court challenging the validity of the circular on the ground that it was arbitrary and quixotic.
In an affidavit filed on behalf of Tamil Nadu FL2, FL3 and Hotel Association, its secretary M. Jaiganesh of Madurai said, the FL2 and FL3 licences were issued by the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise on collection of substantial amount of money towards privilege fee and licence fee every year. The licencees, thereafter, purchase liquor in wholesale from Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).
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