124. Presiding officer to guard against combination of bidders.
- The presiding officer must be on his guard against the combination of bidders at the sale. With a view to ensuring healthy competition and to prevent prices being forced down by a few wealthy monopolists, all legitimate means must be taken to ensure the attendance at these sales of bidders from outside of a class willing to take and hold excise opium shop subject to the principle laid down in Instruction 109 supra. Benami transaction must not be permitted. Licences should be granted only to bona fide vendors.
