Liquor shops defying SC orders, says NGO

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 15

Harman Singh Sidhu, president of NGO ArriveSAFE India, who has been fighting against the selling of liquor along the national and state highways since 2012, has raised questions over the working of the local Excise and Taxation (Excise) Department.

He said despite the ruling of the Apex Court, scores of liquor shops on the National Highway-44 were displaying advertisements, hoardings, signs and signages.

He sent a complaint letter to Yogesh Kumar, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner (Excise), Haryana, along with photographs of the liquor shops with their GPS location, date and time.

Sidhu raised objection over the affidavit filed by the department in the High Court that no display board, signages, hoardings were displayed on any liquor shop/vend/bar on the national highway.

He said in its affidavit the department said there was no advertisement, hoardings, signs or signages displayed at any liquor vend/bar and if there was any, the same had been removed, but despite it several liquor shops/vends were still displaying it.

“I travelled on the National Highway-44 from Ambala to Panipat on January 10, 2018, and found giant sized advertisements painted on the liquor shops/vends clearly defying the Supreme Court ruling that no liquor shops are allowed to display advertisement of liquor sale along the national or state highways,” he asserted.

“It is unfortunate that blatant violations of court orders continue in Haryana,” he said.

“I have also submitted my complaint to Capt Abhimanyu, Finance Minister, Haryana, and Ashima Brar, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Haryana, with photographs of four liquor shops with GPS locations, date and time. I request them to kindly take the necessary action,” he added.