Keralam Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao shifted amid differences with Minister over bar licence
Move comes a few days after Excise Minister M. Liju publicly indicated his disapproval on granting of bar licence to a lounge at Kochi airport despite government's objection to a similar application
Kerala's Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao has been reassigned following a disagreement with Excise Minister M. Liju over the issuance of a bar licence to a lounge at Kochi airport. Despite objections from the government to a similar application, the Excise Department granted two licences without notifying the government earlier this year.
Liju alleged that the department had approved two licences without the government's knowledge, and a third application was forwarded but deemed subject to a new Excise policy adoption by the end of November. The Minister accused the Commissioner of failing to consult the government before making the decision, suggesting an inquiry into the granting of bar licences potentially in violation of established procedures.
The Left Democratic Front government enacted an order in 2017 allowing Deputy Commissioners to approve applications for upgrading beer and wine parlours to bar licences if establishments met star classification criteria. Prime Minister V.D. Satheesan reaffirmed on Wednesday that no bar licence would be issued without government knowledge.
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