Eradication of Belt shops
Prohibition
and Excise- Eradicating the menace of unauthorized liquor outlets (commonly
known as belt shops) in A.P. - Orders –Issued.
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REVENUE
(EX-II) DEPARTMENT
GO
Ms.No.263 Dated:08.06.2014
ORDER:-
The
underlying intent & purpose of the Excise policy of the Government of
Andhra Pradesh is to regulate the sale, purchase, possession, production,
manufacture, and transport of intoxicating liquors and drugs and the levy of
duties of excise and countervailing duties on alcoholic liquors for human
consumption.
2. For regulating the sale and possession of
intoxicating liquors, the Government of AP has enacted the AP Excise Act 1968,
the AP Prohibition Act 1995, the AP Excise Grant of Licence of Selling by Bar
& Conditions of Licence Rules, 2005 and the AP Excise (Grant of Licence of
Selling by Shops & Conditions of Licence) Rules, 2012. The Prohibition &
Excise Department is responsible for implementing the regulations prescribed under
the Act & Rules.
3. The sale of liquor in unauthorized
outlets/premises, commonly called in the local parlance as “belt shops”, has
been engaging the attention of Government for some time. The sale of liquor in
the unauthorized premises, while being illegal and against the rules, defeats
the very purpose of licensing. The rampant availability of liquor, due to the
belt shops, has a very harmful effect on social behavior, morality, public
health and the safety and security of women & children. The civil society
and women’s organizations have been repeatedly agitating and demanding the
Government to eliminate the unauthorized liquor outlets (belt shops).
4. After careful examination of the extant
situation, the provisions under the relevant Act and Rules and the harmful
effects of the unauthorized liquor outlets (belt shops) on the general society
and women & children in particular and in the interest of public health
& peace and tranquility, the Government hereby resolve to take all the
necessary measures to eradicate the menace of the unauthorized liquor outlets,
commonly known as belt shops.
5. In pursuance
of the above
objective, the Government hereby orders
that the following steps shall be taken:
(1)
Amendments to Acts & Rules: The Commissioner
of Prohibition and Excise shall examine the present framework of Acts &
Rules for implementing the Excise policy, identify the lacunae & loopholes
in the Act/Rules, which lead to the proliferation of the unauthorized liquor
outlets (belt shops), and propose the amendments/changes required for
eradicating the unauthorized liquor outlets (belt shops).
(2)
Enforcement work: All the cases of unauthorized liquor
sales shall be viewed very strictly and cases shall be registered under Section 34(a) of Andhra Pradesh Excise Act,
1968. Such cases, wherein liquor is sold at unauthorized premises or
outlets ‘cannot be compounded’ under any circumstances and stern action, as per
the Act & the Rules shall be taken where link to the licensee is
established.
(3)Constitution
of Special Task Force Teams: The Commissioner of Prohibition
and Excise shall constitute “Special Task Force” teams exclusively for dealing
with the menace of sales at unauthorized liquor outlets (belt shops).
(4)Cancellation of licences:
Action shall be taken for cancellation of the licences in the following cases:
a.
Registration of cases against
licensees of A4 shops who indulge in sale of liquor beyond permitted quantities
to the customers in one transaction under Section
36 (b) and (c) of A.P. Excise Act 1968 and to cancel their licenses.
b.
The licences of A4-Shops shall be cancelled,
if during investigation, it is found that they are involved in supply of liquor
to unauthorized outlets, in violation of Rule 35 of the Andhra Pradesh Excise (Grant of Licence of Selling by Shop and
Conditions of Licence)
Rules, 2012.
Rules, 2012.
(5)Co-operation
from other Departments: The Prohibition & Excise
Department shall seek the cooperation of Police Officials and the Government
departments like Revenue and Rural and Urban Local bodies, in detecting and
control of unauthorized liquor sales in the Villages, Towns and Cities.
(6)Disciplinary
action against erring officials: Any slackness
on the part of Station House Officers of Prohibition & Excise Department in
non-detection and complete removal of unauthorized outlets, if any, shall
attract severe disciplinary action against them.
(7)
Awareness: To curb consumption or sale of liquor at
unauthorised outlets, “Village level Committees, Mandal level Committees and District
Level Committees” shall be formed by the District Collectors with respectable
and responsible persons of that locality including women to give information to
the Enforcement Agencies for the detection and removal of unauthorized liquor
outlets. The Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and NGOs shall be motivated to pass
information about the sale of IML at unauthorised liquor outlets (belt Shops).
(8) Incentives and Rewards:
Incentives will be offered to those who give information regarding liquor sale at
unauthorised outlets. Monetary rewards and merit certificates shall be given
for good work rendered in the eradication of the unauthorised liquor outlets
(belt shops) to the personnel working in Government Departments, including the
personnel working in Enforcement Wing of the Prohibition and
Excise Department.
6. The Commissioner, Prohibition & Excise
and the Director, Enforcement,(P&E), Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA
PRADESH)
S.P. SINGH
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
TO GOVERNMENT
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