Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has set aside an order of the Excise Commissioner against licence holder Chandani Satardekar, holding that the penalty was imposed without granting her an opportunity to be heard.
A Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Nivedita Mehta directed the Commissioner to either issue a fresh notice or communicate a hearing date to Satardekar before taking the matter forward.
Satardekar, through her counsel, had argued that the department’s August 14, 2025 order was passed in violation of natural justice since she had not received a show-cause notice and was denied the chance to participate in the hearing. She maintained that although she had filed a written reply on August 11, 2025, she was unaware of any scheduled proceedings before the Commissioner.
Her plea also pointed out that the local panchayat had cancelled the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for her liquor outlet, but appellate proceedings had resulted in a status quo order, effectively suspending the panchayat’s decision. “The very foundation of the impugned order does not exist,” her lawyer submitted.
During the hearing, the Additional Government Advocate assured the court that the Commissioner would grant Satardekar a proper hearing before passing any fresh order. The government also noted that she had the right to appeal and that her written submissions had been considered, while acknowledging the NOC issue remains under status quo.
Accepting these submissions, the Bench quashed the Commissioner’s earlier order and directed that the proceedings be conducted afresh with due process.
