Corruption is hydra-headed and it is difficult to identify precisely where the source of corruption lies. True, that the State has the requisite paraphernalia which when galvanized into action can go a long way in preventing corrupt practices. Yes the law is there, the paraphernalia is there and the system is set to enforce the law that will curb corruption but at the end of the day it is the human element that counts and which is the real effective instrument in eradicating corruption.
So far one important source of corruption that has somehow remained outside the reach of anti-corruption mechanism is the liquor mafia in Jammu. The Excise Department directly deals with the issuance of licenses for establishing liquor vends in accordance with the rules and practices. The existing system had come under severe criticism and in fact a petition was filed in the State High Court to ensure that liquor mafia’s wings are clipped. Consequently, the High Court issued instructions to the Government to review Excise Policy and also conveyed some guidelines for issuance of liquor vend licenses. In the month of March, Finance Department notified Excise Policy 2017-18 with much hype and mentioned that new Policy will help the Government in coming down heavily on benami ownership of all existing liquor licenses. However, many new instructions did not favour the liquor mafia and it moved fast to ensure that the new policy provisions hurting their commercial interests were not implemented. In order to make their subversive efforts succeed, the liquor mafia has developed nexus with some officials of the Excise Department and scuttled the provisions set forth in the policy. The liquor mafia is very powerful and influential and has the capacity to change the course of Excise Policy as laid down under new rules. For example, the new rules say that license for new liquor vends should be issued on priority for the un-served or under-served areas in the State. But the liquor – mafia has prevailed upon the Excise Department to bypass this instruction because it would hurt their commercial interests. The second important new rule is that licenses are to be given through e-auction so that there is complete transparency. This also has been scuttled and the Excise Department has a clear hand in it. Even the modus-operandi for e-auction was also prepared but it was scuttled before being implemented.
The question is that when the Government machinery is corrupt how can we expect that the entire system is not corrupted Therefore, before coming down with an iron fist on the liquor mafia, what the Government needs to do is to set its house in order. Foremost of all the Excise Department has to be held responsible for subverting the instructions of the court. Once, the Government takes stern action under rules against the defaulters in the ED, it will have its immediate impact on the conspiracies hatched by the liquor mafia. It is not right to think that liquor mafia is so strong that it cannot be broken. They will try to protect their vested interests and that protection comes to them only through the Excise Department.
Drinking is a curse. Right thinking citizens abhor drinking. Unfortunately, the Government does not look at this evil from the prism of morality but from commercial point of view because revenues from liquor industry are enormous and liquor barons are becoming most powerful. The right thing is that liquor should have been banned in the State as is done by some of the States in the country. But if that is not done, at least it should not graduate to a level where it becomes a force to be reckoned with in the context of law and order situation. Today it has become a source of corruption and derailing of good governance. This has to be stopped.
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