Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Divi-sional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal has issued directives to all District Development Commissioners of the Jammu region to facilitate in implementation of the directions of the Supreme Court and ensure that no harassment is done to the wine shop operators and their employees operating under licenses issued by Excise Commissioner of the State while relocating their shops.
In a communiqué to all the DCs of Jammu region, the Divisional Commissioner said that the early relocation of retail liquor traders will also facilitate in increase of Government revenue.
It said the State Government through Excise Department has issued licenses for conducting the business of sale and purchase of liquor and the business is conducted under the supervision and control of Excise Department and it is a major source of revenue to the State. The Supreme Court on the recommendations of the Committee headed by Justice K S Radha Krishan on road safety measures has issued directives for shifting of wine shops along the National Highway and accordingly the J&K High Court Division Bench in its judgment dated 27.102015 has passed the directions to shift the liquor shops from National Highway by December 31, 2015.
The letter said all shops located along the highway were therefore directed by the Excise Department to close after 9pm on December 31 last year and shift to other location away from Highway. The new sites were inspected and approved by the Excise Department.
It sad while some wine shops have reopened at locations away from highway as approved by a Committee or Excise Department , however the relocation of some wine shops is being obstructed by some vested interests who are involved in unauthorized sale of contraband psychotropic substances and country made liquor. These people have influence over the inhabitants of the locality and are causing threat to the employees and owners of the wine shops and forcing them to shut down shops for no reasons whatsoever.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel