Excise Commissioner takes tough stance, issues directives to ETOs

Use of Press/Media logo for transportation of liquor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 29: Taking serious note of use of Press/Media logo for transportation of liquor, Excise Commissioner J&K Rajesh Kumar Shavan today issued directives to the Excise and Taxation Officers for bringing an end to this practice.
It has been observed that some licensees have obtained multiple licenses in breach of rules and they utilize the vehicles of different make for transportation of liquor from one premise to another whenever transport permits are issued by the competent authority, reads the order issued by the Excise Commissioner.
“They do so as no uniform methodology has been adopted for the use of vehicles by the licensees and the type of vehicle to be used for the transport of liquor is left to the discretion of licensee”, the order said, adding “the licensees also utilize vehicles either owned by themselves or on hire basis but there is no proper identification or coding of such vehicles specifying carriage of liquor through them”.
“In one case, during the inspection it has been found that the trader was found utilizing vehicles of Press (Print Media) and the name of the Press was displayed in bold letters all over the vehicles giving enough impression that the vehicles were meant for carrying Newspapers only”, the Excise Commissioner said, adding “the transport of liquor in the vehicles of Press is not only unethical but illegal too as it creates a general impression of the Press for safe passage of each check point/naka under the guise of Newspapers”.
Accordingly, he has directed that hence forth no such vehicle carrying the logo or name of Press/Media shall be utilized for the transport of liquor in any case. “No such vehicle shall be even parked inside the premises of any licensee and the Excise and Taxation Officers while issuing transport permits shall ensure that this condition is being fulfilled by the licensee”, the order reads.
It has been made clear by the Excise Commissioner that the vehicle carrying liquor shall display the banner/board indicating “liquor/wine under valid transport”.