The Times of India: Patiala: Thursday, June 07, 2012.
Now it's official that Punjab excise and taxation department (ETD) had rejected anti-liquor resolutions of Punjab villages in violation of Punjab Panchayati Raj Act and without any valid reason.
Information procured under RTI Act has reportedly shown that police have not made any liquor seizure in 26 villages, but ETD authorities rejected their anti-liquor resolutions by claiming that police seized liquor from these villages.
The affected villages have called an emergency meeting at Sangrur on June 10 to announce their future course of action.
Under section 40 of Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, village panchayats have powers to close liquor shops in their villages by passing resolutions. But the Act also mandates that there should not be any case of liquor seizure in the village during the last two years from the date of passing the resolution. There are allegations that excise department has been misusing liquor seizure clause of the Act to discourage panchayats, without giving any valid reason.
Of the 89 anti-liquor resolutions passed by various panchayats of Punjab this year, excise department has accepted only 30 anti-liquor resolutions while authorities claimed that it rejected the remaining, stating that police have booked residents of that village after confiscating liquor from them.
Giving RTI information, SSPs of Sangrur, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts have confirmed that police have not made any liquor seizure from these villages and no FIR has been registered against residents of these villages during the last two years.
ETD authorities have rejected the resolutions of Matoi, Bhagwanpura, Bhaini Kalan, Dhaner Kalan, Mehamadpur, Hareri, Gurdaspura, Sakraudi, Kunra,Chular, Dhaner Khurd, Gaga, Kotra Lehal, Nagra, Ghabda, Akabarpur, Kahangarh, Manmajra, Alaal, Hasanpur, Khubadwal, Diwangarh camper, Neelowal of Sangrur district, Ghumiala, Zahura of Hoshiarpur and Kodwal of Gurdwaspur district by claiming that police have made liquor seizures from these villages.
"In RTI information, SSPs have given us that no FIR has been registered against any person of these villages. It shows ETD authorities rejected anti-liquor resolutions without any valid reason and under pressure from liquor mafia. We have called an emergency meeting on June 10," said Dr A S Mann, president, Scientific Awareness and Social Welfare Forum (SASWF).
Demanding amendments in the liquor seizure clause of Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, panchayats had met Punjab rural minister Surjit Singh Rakhra some days back at Patiala and submitted a memorandum. The minister has formed a special team of his officers to take immediate steps in this direction.
When contacted, ETD Punjab commissioner, A Venu Prasad, said they have rejected the resolutions as per law. "If there is no FIR, panchayats can approach us again for review of rejections," he said.
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