-Pradeep Bansal
Delhi Govt. has fixed some norms for opening a wine shop but the Excise Department is violating these norms contemptuously. In December, 2011, Justice Hima Kohli, Delhi High Court ordered that the wine shop cannot operate in a market in the residential area. The decision came in the case filed by Sarita Vihar ‘A’ Block RWA. In this case, DDA also admitted that the Master Plan doesn’t envisage any permission for a liquor shop in the market. HC’s order came after the state government gave an undertaking that the license for the liquor vend, run by DSIDC, will not be renewed.
In Dwarka, the License of the wine shop at Sector 6 Local Shopping Centre (LSC)(also known as Post Office market) is renewed every year in March the shop is still working. Apparently, the licence has been renewed despite protests from the residents and court order prohibiting wine shop in LSC type markets. In its RTI reply dated 2.12.2011, the Excise Department informed that no shop can be opened in Local Shopping area. The shop was initially granted L-2 vend licence in June, 2005 which was later upgraded to L-6. Now, Bansal has asked the basis for the renewal of licence despite the orders of Delhi High Court in December, 2011 that no shop can operate in the LSC market or similar places by filing fresh RTI. He has also asked whether at the time its upgradation to L-6, whether recommendation/ No Objection Certificate from the area MLA was required and if so, to provide copy of that letter.
When Pradeep Bansal, RTI applicant asked for the certified copies of the noting about granting the License, it was stated that the grant of license in LSC is not a violation of Delhi Excise Act and rules which is self-contradictory. Bansal also asked for the certified copies of the noting on the action taken on the letter sent by M. K. Gupta, Joint Secretary, Dwarka Forum on 19.1.2012 to the Commissioner, Excise demanding shifting of this shop, the reply was that the file is under submission to the higher authorities and as and when the file will be received back, RTI applicant can obtain the copies.
