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| Jammu and Kashmir government tables bill on liquor trade | | |
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government today tabled a bill in the assembly seeking amendement of the excise act to authorise it to make rules for better regulation of the liquor trade in the state.
The bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act of 1958 was introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, who said the government wanted to fix the maximum retail price for all categories of liquor for improved regulation of the trade.
The original act needs to be amended to authorise the government to make new rules for fixation of prices, Baig said in the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.
Baig said the act authorises the government to make rules for fixing the maximum or minimum price above or below which liquor or opium shall not be sold.
While locally made liquor has been abolished in the state with effect from April 1, 2004, a need was felt to fix the maximum price of liquor to curb profiteering by retailers and to protect the interests of consumers and also revenue, Baig said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Liquor, Licence and Sales Rules of 1984 were amended and the prices for cheap brands of liquor were fixed during the current year. The retailer licensees resented this move and one of them even challenged the government's powers to fix prices. The petition, however, was dismissed.
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