Bengaluru: The Election Commission has directed the excise department officials to handle cases judiciously and cautiously before suspending licences of liquor outlets.
The wine merchants’ federation has urged the authorities to revoke suspended licences within the next three days. The Excise Department officials have issued orders for shutting down 750 liquor outlets.
Since April 1, the department has suspended about 750 licences on various charges, including sale of loose liquor and violation of timings. “We have clarified to the department officials that violation of the code of conduct would be the use of liquor as inducements to voters. Law also has to be exercised while allowing legitimate business to go on,” Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar told presspersons here on Tuesday.
His response came after a delegation of the Federation of Wine Merchants’ Association – Karnataka met election commission officials, Finance Secretary I.S.N. Prasad and Excise Commissioner Munish Moudgil, urging the authorities to allow them to shut shop till the election process is completed.
