Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: RTI/Social activist Balvinder Singh today said that in Delhi where BJP is in opposition lodged their protest on 03-01-2022 against the Delhi Government’s excise policy for allowing wine shops to be opened near religious places but in J&K which is indirectly ruled by the BJP, the Saffron party don’t mind opening of wine shop near religious places and educational institutions.
Addressing a press conference here today, Singh stated that J&K excise policy vide SRO 128 dated 25-02-2019 for the year 2019-20 reduced the distance from 300 meters to 100 meters from the religious places but the condition of opening of wine shops has totally been removed in the excise policy for 2022-23.
Singh said that he had filed Writ Petition WP © 612/2022 in the High Court J&K for quashing the SO 71 i.e. excise policy of 2022-23 which no where mentioned the requirement of distance of 300 meters for religious places for opening of New vend (JKEL-2) wine shops, as was provided under excise policy 2018-19.
“In the reply filed in the High Court through Deputy Advocate General, the Excise Department stated that one of the objectives of the excise policy 2022-23 is to check smuggling of liquor and narcotics drugs in J&K from neighbouring states/union territories. The Department further mentioned that though it has not mentioned the distance for opening of new wine shops but if the local people of the area raises objection for opening of wine shops in their area before District Magistrate concerned, then DM will not issue NOC certificate for opening of such shop,” he added.
He said as the excise policy 2022-23 is expiring on 31-03-2023, therefore he has withdrawn his petition but as and when new excise policy is issued and if it lacks distance requirement in respect of religious places, educational institutions, industrial establishments, etc, he will challenge that (new excise policy) also.
Singh urged the Excise Department to prescribe at least 300 meters of distance from religious places and educational institutions for opening of new wine shops in the new excise policy which the Department is going to formulate soon.
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