Uttarakhand / Dehradun: Excise Commissioner enraged by DM’s action? DM suspended the license, Commissioner granted stay and got the liquor shop opened!
DM Savin Bansal and Harichand Semwal have come face to face over a liquor contract suspended on charges of running an open bar on Rajpur Road. DM Savin Bansal ordered the suspension of the liquor shop’s license for 15 days, while Excise Commissioner Harichand Semwal stayed the suspension and issued orders to open the liquor shop.
The DM has refused to open the liquor shop. The DM has sent a letter to the Excise Commissioner asking him to point out the shortcomings in his order. On what basis was the suspension order revoked? It is worth noting that the district administration is constantly receiving complaints ranging from overrating to running open bars outside liquor shops. Local women and elderly residents of Rajpur Road Bahl Chowk had complained in the public hearing. They had told that liquor is being served openly in the liquor shop located in Opal Lodge Building. It is difficult for women and girls to come out from here. The DM got the investigation done by SDM Sadar. It was found that a bar was being run illegally in the basement of the Opal Lodge building. Apart from the sale of liquor at The Liquor Hub (licensed shop of foreign liquor), liquor was being served at many places nearby.
The DM said that the liquor shop has been suspended for 15 days. There was anger among the local people due to the stay order on the order. Those people lodged an objection, so the shop has been banned from opening during the suspension period.
Illegal shops and kiosks are being set up to sell items related to alcohol consumption. A large amount of liquor bottles and cups and glasses used for consumption were also found in the basement. On this, a challan of five lakhs was imposed and the license of the liquor shop was suspended for 15 days. The dispute started from here. The Excise Commissioner, contrary to the DM’s order, gave a stay and ordered the shop to be opened.
On getting information about the stay on the suspension order of the liquor shop by the Excise Commissioner, the people of the locality protested to the DM. On this, the DM refused to open the shop in view of the stay order of the Excise Commissioner. He told the Excise Commissioner that whatever allegations have been made against the shop, they have been confirmed in the joint investigation. The DM asked the Excise Commissioner why a stay order was given on the suspension of the shop? Which rule or section was used in giving the stay? Actually, the Excise Commissioner gave a stay order on the suspension, but did not give any reason behind it.
