So far as the country liquor is concerned, its sale, purchase, possession and consumption etc. have been completely banned by government notification dated 31.03.2016. However, so far foreign liquor is concerned, the ban has been imposed on its wholesale or retail trade as also on its consumption by government notification dated 05.04.2016. The government notification dated 05.04.2016 does not show that even possession of the foreign liquor has been banned by the State Government. Indisputably, the petitioner was a valid licensee for the Restaurant and Bar in question and for possessing and keeping the foreign liquor. From perusal of the prosecution report filed by the Excise department, it does not appear that the petitioner was dealing with the foreign liquor, kept in the Bar, on the alleged date of occurrence. It has nowhere been stated that it was being served to the customer present there. In absence of such allegation, it cannot be said that the petitioner was trading with the foreign liquor. That being the factual position and the petitioner being a valid licensee, whose licence has not been cancelled till date, as per submission of the learned counsel, the petitioner is entitled to have the benefit of
