Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 5: RTI Activist, Balvinder Singh has asked the J&K government to declare exact distance which needs to be maintained by a liquor shop from religious places in J&K.
He said that there are liquor shops at 4-5 feet distance and at certain times they are told that distance of a liquor shop from religious place must be more than hundred meters.
“In absence of any clear rule in this regard, it becomes the choice of the concerned police station or concerned revenue officials to apply their mind to issue NOCs which breeds corruption,” Singh claimed.
He said that there were incidents when NOCs to liquor shops triggered protests owing to nearness of these shops to some religious place.
“Last year the government allotted licenses on bidding basis after which liquor shops were opened near religious places,” he maintained claiming that whenever they questioned Excise Department in this regard, vague answer was given.
He urged upon Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha to direct the Excise Department to announce and fix clear distance of a liquor shop from a religious place else he will move court to safeguard religious sentiments of the public.
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