Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday declared that the no new liquor vend/shop will be sanctioned with a Government license in the national Capital. Only l-10 licences will be granted for opening shops in shopping malls. In the event of complaint against liquor vends, Mohalla Sabhas will decided whether to continue the same or close down the concerned shop. In other words, power to close liquor vend is vested with Mohalla Sabha as their decision will be binding on the Excise Commissioner.
Besides, there is no hike in excise duty which means that liquor prices would remain the same in the national capital.
Every liquor shop owner/manager will now be responsible for maintaining decorum around the shop, failing which they will face strict action, including cancellation of the licence.
Communicating the Delhi Cabinet’s decision of approving Delhi Excise Policy 2016 to the media, Kejriwal announced that no new liquor shop with l6 license (Government license DTTDC, DSIDC, DSCSC and DCCWS) will be opened in Delhi.” The decision was taken by the Government following several complaints of unruly behaviour from places around liquor shops. “If people are upset with liquor shops, then Mohalla Sabhas (neighbourhood meetings) will decide whether to shift them or shut them down,” Kejriwal said.
“Many people are troubled by liquor vends in their localities as people drink publicly, create nuisance. Women feel unsafe to venture out as they feel unsafe in such an environment. So we have taken these two decisions,” Kejriwal said.
According to Cabinet note, if a complaint is received against any vend (l-6 for government run corporations and l-7 for retail trade of Indian liquor & Beer by private entrepreneurs) which is signed by at least 10 per cent of the registered voters of the Mohalla Sabha, then Deputy Commissioner (Excise) shall place it before the Mohalla Sabha in presence of 15 per cent registered voters who will decide the complaint and will pass a resolution by 2/3 votes present in the voting. In other words, in case 10 per cent voters in a particular Mohalla Sabha file a complaint about any liquor vend in their residential locality, then a Mohalla Sabha meeting can be organised by 15 per cent of its members, making a quorum.
A decision needs to be backed by a two-thirds majority. To encourage the role of women in decision-making, it will be mandatory that 33 per cent of women should participate in such meetings. The deputy commissioner shall act in accordance with this decision. The decision would be binding by Commissioner of Excise. “If a Mohalla Sabha decides by two-thirds majority against having a liquor vend in the area, the Government will immediately shift it from that place,” Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
The Government has also made it clear that liquor franchisees need to ensure that there are no brawls outside their shops.
The Chief Minister also warned that strict action will be taken against shop owners and managers of existing liquor shops if any wrong activities are reported about them.
Besides, the Government has also decided to register foreign liquor importers in Delhi. Currently, there are 40-50 dealers of foreign liquor but they are not registered with the Excise Department. According to insiders, the excise policy 2016 is to remain on the same line of the existing policy.
The present growth of revenue from excise is less than 10 per cent as liquor prices are not revised in the current financial year. At present the Delhi Government’s four corporations namely DTTDC (Delhi Tourism) DSCSC (Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation) , DSIIDC (Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) and DCCWS (Delhi Consumer’s Cooperative Wholesale Store ltd) are engaged in the retail trade of liquor, with a total 356 shops for Indian liquor and beer and 104 shops for country liquor. The private entrepreneurs are also holding 90 shops for retail sale of Indian liquor and beer all over Delhi. Besides, the Government has also issued several dozen licenses (l-10) to liquor vends at shopping mall.