There have been complaints from the rival excise contractors that liquor was being sold at these shops below the basic price list fixed by the government to cut into the sales of the rival excise contractors.
Gurdaspur Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Kirpal Singh Sidhu said the department had conducted inspection of these shops in July following an order of higher authorities.
The licences of these shops have been cancelled for a week and their premises were sealed for this period, he said.
According to the trade circles these excise contractors have been selling their stock much below the price prescribed by the government due to cheap illicit liquor being sold in the villages by those engaged in selling it.
Sidhu said nine of such sealed shops fall in Purana Shalla and 10 shops were lying in Naushehra Majha Singh area.
