J&K's tryst with the intoxicating stuff is a heady history and has been handy fortunes for some select individuals. There has been a consistent clamour for declaring the Jammu and Kashmir as a dry state, those controlling the trade always ruled the roost being monopolists and influenced the power-that-be to expand further the flow of alcohol, particularly in Jammu. Several religious and civil society groups have been demanding a ban on liquor online with that of Gujarat and Bihar. The announcement of new excise policy has entailed a tug of war between the Union Territory Administration and the existing wine traders who do not want to open the alcohol trade to others by pushing many reasons in support of their respective arguments. Finally, the government has today unleashed its e-auction tiger open the floodgate for all those for whom the liquor trade was out of bound.
The government has projected its point of view in countering the pleas put forth by the existing wine traders.
In a major shift from the stereo-typed excise policy, the J&K Administration has come out with a new excised policy that claims to eliminate the monopoly of few and open opportunities for all in a transparent manner. The New Excise policy claims this would bring about greater social consciousness about the harmful effects of consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages and would encourage the transition from high to low alcoholic content beverages. How the government will achieve this objective, however, is a different question? The objective, the new policy claims to rationalize the number of taxes/duties and other levies to optimize revenues for common good.
The New Excise Policy is only an attempt to implement law of the land and Judgments of Hon'ble High Court and is completely transparent and no government functionary can favour or disfavour any prospective bidder thus it ends favouritism.
The e-bidding for liquor licenses confined to domiciles of J&K only and it will, therefore, provide employment to locals only. It ends monopoly. The administration further says that equal opportunity to all has been provided to participate in the e-auction process for allotment of liquor licenses and to stop perpetual transfers within the family and its principle of one individual-one vend will restrict the practice of monopoly.
The solvency certificate of an immovable property provides a due safeguard that only residents of J&K can participate. Further, it will also check proxy and speculative bidding.
Online e-auction shall ensure anonymous participation without any fear from any pressure group. Auction of liquor vends only on existing locations which have been functioning for the past many years ensures that public sentiments are fully taken into account.
The Administration further claimed that for the first time MRP formulae; profit margins have been declared and policy does not allow participation of persons with criminal antecedents. Constraints of Force-Majeure are also being addressed.
Going by the salient features of the new excise policy, the initiative seems appreciative indeed. But how far the government's efforts succeed in implementing it in letter and spirit and plugging the loopholes, if any, will be seen only after this new regime take firm footing on the ground.
