Acting on the directions of Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the state Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam on Tuesday held a meeting with all the senior officers of the Excise Department for tightening the noose around excise liqour contractors resorting to hooliganism in the name of carrying out checking of vehicles and marriage palaces.
The Excise Commissioner, during a video conference (VC) meeting, took stock of the efforts made by departmental officers in doing away with this menace of unlawful practice of checking by some Excise Liqour contractors.
As per the directions issued by Financial Commissioner (Taxation) Vikas Partap, the Excise Department should tighten the control on these elements to totally eliminate the harassment to the general public at the hand of some of these miscreants.
The Excise Commissioner, during the meeting, issued strict directions to the officers that there will be zero tolerance towards such unlawful, malicious, and aggressive behaviour of licensees. He specifically ordered that under no circumstances, the Excise licensees shall be allowed to take law into their hands by carrying out checking in the absence of the excise staff.
He emphasized that it is the duty of concerned excise officers or excise inspectors to carry out such checking of vehicles and marriage palaces wherever necessary and for this purpose he advised that district-wise roster of Excise inspectors should be strictly enforced.
The excise commissioner also directed the officers that no vehicle, belonging to private excise licensees, shall bear any excise-related sticker or banner on it and if any such vehicle is found on the road, the same shall be impounded immediately.
He conveyed to the officers that the Punjab Government is committed to provide safe, healthy and harmonious social environment to the people of Punjab and therefore there is no room for such socially unacceptable and legally unlawful activities of excise liqour contractors.
“Any lapse in this context by anyone will be viewed seriously and strict appropriate action against them will be taken as per law,” he added.