Liquor laws tightened in Haryana

Liquor laws tightened in Haryana
MUKESH BHARDWAJ

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 24: Carrying liquor beyond the prescribed limits will now be a serious offence with the Haryana Government making stringent amendments to its existing liquor law. The new amendments empower the state to confiscate the vehicle in which illicit liquor is caught and also authorise the government to auction the vehicle to realise composition fee.

For the big offenders the cases would now be tried in the department itself instead of court and for small offenders both options of department and courts would be available. Excise and Taxation Commissioner Raj Kumar, when contacted by The Indian Express, said that changes have been made keeping in view the long court procedure.

Except for the Central or State owned transport modes all vehicles carrying more than 120 bottles of 750 ml illegally would be detained by the department and report of the same would immediately be sent to the Excise and Taxation Commissioner within 24 hours.

The department has fixed heavy penalty between Rs 30,000 and Rs 3 lakh for the offenders in this category and if a person fails to pay the penalty within a week, the confiscated vehicle would be auctioned to realise the fine money. It also has a provision by which it has decided to grant reasonable time for the offender to be heard and present his version.

Earlier, the offenders were tried only in the court but now for the individual carrying liquor more than permissible limits, the department also has the authorisation to decide the cases. And necessary amendments have been made in the law to impose composition fee on the offenders. According to the new provisions country or foreign liquor manufactured in a Haryana distillery and imported liquor on which custom duty is liable under law would be imposed with a fine money of Rs 150 per bottle and liquor other than this would be imposed with Rs 300 each. The department would now be imposing Rs 50 on per bottle of beer carried beyond the prescribed limit in the state.