Chandigarh, April 10 -- A day after sealing 47 of the 96 liquor vends allotted in Chandigarh for fiscal 2025-26 over non-submission of bank guarantees worth Rs.40 crore, the UT excise and taxation department on Wednesday cancelled their allotment.

The decision was taken after the department wrote to higher authorities, recommending the cancellations. As per Clause 21 of the UT Excise Policy, successful bidders must submit bank guarantees-15% of the licence fee-within seven working days of the allotment notification. Failure to do so leads to automatic cancellation, and forfeiture of earnest money and security deposit.

The vends had been allotted on March 21 and operations had begun from April 3.

A senior excise official confirmed the c...