The Excise Department of the Delhi government has extended the Excise Policy 2021-22 by two months till July 31, extending the validity of renewable licenses for retail liquor shops. PTI,
subject to payment of extension license fee For an extended period including security deposit, as per extant provisions.
Existing licensees of retail liquor shops will have to pay the license fee for the extended period till May 31 – which will be calculated on a proportionate basis.
“The license fee for the month of June and July shall be paid by the licensees as per the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009/Delhi Excise Rules, 2010. However, the license fee arrears shall not be allowed to exceed the security deposit. Extended period amount available with the department at any time during the period,” the order said.
The decision was taken in anticipation of delay in approval of the Excise Policy 2022-23 to allow home delivery of liquor, among other things.
“The Excise Policy 2022-23 was approved by the Delhi Cabinet in its meeting on May 5. It is yet to be approved by the Lieutenant Governor,” the news agency quoted an official of the Excise Department as saying.
The previous policy, which was extended earlier, expires on May 31.
Anil Baijal resigned from the post of Lieutenant Governor on 18 May citing “personal reasons”. His successor Vinay Kumar Saxena, appointed on Monday, is yet to take oath of office.
In November last year, the Kejriwal government had implemented its new excise policy, under which licenses for retail liquor sales were issued through open tender to private operators.
Till now, out of the total 850 retailers in the city, around 650 have opened in 32 zones. The government is also implementing several other recommendations of the policy in a phased manner.
With inputs from agencies.