18 liquor vends sealed in Chandigarh over non-payment of licence fee

Due to non-payment of dues, the Excise and Taxation Department last night sealed 18 liquor vends. However, the allottees of six liquor vends deposited the mandatory licence fee today and these had been de-sealed. However, the remaining 12 liquor vends remained sealed.

According to sources, most of the liquor vends that were sealed belonged to one group and the department had faced problems regarding their payments in the past as well. Sources said that a final notice had been issued to the licensees in relation to non-depositing of licence fee for vends on time and had remained closed from the beginning.

The department was considering blacklisting these licensees in view of the defaults being committed every month for non-payment of fee, sources stated and added that the department was also verifying the solvency of these licensees. As per the provisions of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, the department can debar them from future participation in tender process.