JAMMU, May 18: The Excise Department teams have booked 35 liquor shops for overcharging from the customers while the Excise Commissioner, J&K has advised the people to use digital mode of payment while purchasing liquor from the shops/vends.
Excise Commissioner, Pankaj Sharma said that the Department has intensified its enforcement activities to ensure compliance with regulations governing retail liquor vends/wine shops across the region. As part of a concerted effort, a series of inspections were conducted over the past month, resulting in the identification and penalization of violations.
During the enforcement operations, Excise officials conducted surprise inspections at various wine shops to assess adherence to legal standards. A total 35 wine Shops have been booked under Section 49 (b) of JK Excise Act 1958 Act for overcharging and violation of other License Conditions in different areas of Jammu division that includes Bishnah, Mira Sahib, Gandhinagar, Akhnoor, Domana, Nagrota , Bus Stand Jammu, Residency Road Jammu, Udhampur, Jaganoo, Reasi, Kishtwar, Kathua, Dayala Chak, Samba, Rajouri etc.
A fine amounting to Rs 6,10,000 has been realized from 14 wine shops and rest 21 wine shops booked for violations of license conditions have been referred to Deputy Excise Commissioner Executive Jammu for compounding of the offense.
Excise Commissioner further disclosed that since 1st April the rates of liquor have increased from Rs 15 to 50 in different segments of the liquor brands and there has been apprehensions among the customers if the rates have been increased by the department or these retail venders are taking at their sweet will. For which MRPs have been displayed at prominent places in the shop and even the name and mobile number of the Excise Inspector has been displayed at prominent place enabling all customers to contact in case of any violation committed by the vendor. During raids the Excise teams have destroyed 2,25,550 kg of Lahan in different areas of Jammu Division that includes during this period, he added..
