In a significant development that has exposed tensions within Haryana's lucrative liquor trade, retail and wholesale contractors of country-made liquor have formally sought intervention from the office of the Chief Minister. The contractors, represented by the state-level body Allied Liquor Licensees Sewa Samiti, have raised serious allegations of being systematically ignored by excise department officials while simultaneously facing undue pressure and witnessing substantial pilferage of stocks.
Allegations of Pressure and Negligence
The office-bearers of the samiti have detailed a troubling pattern of behavior from excise authorities. They claim that contractors are being directly or indirectly compelled to lift additional quotas of liquor beyond their mandated basic allocations. This pressure, they argue, is compounded by a deliberate turning of a blind eye to the pilferage of liquor stocks from distilleries, a practice that not only harms legitimate businesses but also causes significant losses to the state exchequer.
Systemic Issues in Enforcement
Narender Saini, the General Secretary of the Allied Liquor Licensees Sewa Samiti, elaborated on the dual challenges faced by contractors. "On one hand, the officers required to keep a check on distilleries are not monitoring or acting tough against those who are releasing unlicensed liquor to retailers," he stated. "On the other hand, the retailers and wholesalers are forced to lift additional quota besides the basic quota mandated to them."
Saini clarified that contractors are not opposed to lifting additional quotas in principle. However, their primary concern lies with the unchecked flow of liquor from distilleries that bypasses state levies. "Contractors have no issue in lifting the additional quota, but the liquor coming out without paying the state levies should be completely stopped," he emphasized, highlighting a critical revenue leakage issue.
Repeated Appeals and Official Denials
The samiti has been persistently flagging these issues since January 8, repeatedly approaching Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for intervention in his capacity as the minister in charge. Despite these efforts, they report no tangible success thus far, though they remain committed to continuing their advocacy.
One of the communications shared by the samiti explicitly states: "Some senior officials of the excise department pressured us to lift additional quota while turning a blind eye to illegal withdrawal of country liquor by some distilleries, serious flaws in the departmental portal and breach of promises." This document paints a picture of systemic failures and broken assurances.
Contrasting Official Stance
In stark contrast to these allegations, Vinay Partap Singh, the Commissioner of Excise and Taxation for Haryana, has outright denied claims that liquor contractors are being forced to lift additional quotas. "There is no provision under the current Excise Policy which mandates a particular quantity of additional excise quota to be lifted by retail vends; hence there is no question of forcing any retail vend on this issue," he asserted.
The commissioner further explained that the department regularly reviews enforcement of various policy provisions, including historical patterns of additional quota lifting across districts. "District excise and taxation collectors have been asked to strictly enforce provisions of the Excise Policy on all licensees, including distilleries, breweries and bottling plants, so that no excise duty is evaded," he added, presenting a narrative of proactive governance.
Broader Context and Historical Promises
This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Haryana's ambitious revenue target of over Rs 9,000 crore from Indian Made Foreign Liquor and country-made liquor. The situation becomes even more poignant when viewed in light of recent history. Just a few months ago, when auctioning and selling of excise zones became extremely difficult due to law and order issues in many state areas, senior excise officials personally contacted contractors, requesting them to take up the zones.
At that time, contractors were given explicit assurances of full administrative cooperation and protection throughout the excise year. However, the samiti's communication laments: "But with great regret we must say that as soon as the excise year began, all those assurances were forgotten and instead, contractors faced unnecessary pressure, mental harassment and threats." This perceived breach of trust has significantly exacerbated the current tensions.
The standoff between Haryana's liquor contractors and the excise department represents a critical juncture for the state's alcohol trade governance. With substantial revenue at stake and conflicting narratives about enforcement and pressure, the Chief Minister's office faces a complex challenge in mediating this dispute and ensuring both fair business practices and robust revenue collection for the state.
