The Haryana government led
by Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar is all set to announce its New Excise Policy for the
year. 2015-16, it will be the first public policy document by BJP government in
Haryana after taking over the charge of state affairs of Haryana.
The New Excise Policy for
the year. 2015-16 will manifest the real intention and determination of Khattar
government for good governance; whether it will follow the footsteps of Mr.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda led congress government, who allow under carpet support
to liquor manufacturing companies in the name of abolishing the monopoly in
retail sales of liquor in the state.
It is mention worthy that
Haryana Excise and Taxation Department had invited suggestions from general
public/ all stake holders for formation of its New Excise Policy for the year.
2015-16. as per suggestions and opinions gathered by the writer there are three
schools of thoughts.
The first says that the
retail sales of liquor in the state should be aimed to fetch more revenue to
the state exchequer with quality liquor to its consumers, this opinion holders
say that there should not be shop wise allotment of license to sell liquor in retail
instead of it there should be some definite circle level which will not only give
some business space to the retailers but also indirectly ensure government
revenue to the state exchequer through New Excise Policy for the year. 2015-16.
Apart from above it will keep some sort of controlled check on liquor manufacturing
companies who usually manufacture more than its allotted volume of liquor in
black market by evading state excise revenue in connivance of some corrupt officers
with political patronage. If there will be less authorized buyers (retailers
and whole sellers) then it will put some sort of deterrent pressure on liquor manufacturing
companies and will stop excise tax evasion by liquor manufacturing companies along
with quality liquor to its consumers.
The second school of thought
says that the retail sales of liquor in the state should be aim at to end the monopoly
in retail sales by shop wise allotment of license to sell liquor retail and
bring new employment avenues along with quality liquor to its consumers at comparative
price, theoretically this is good equation but on ground it hampers the interest
of the state and as well as the consumers of the liquid, whose excessive use is
injurious for health. If there will be price war among retailers, their margin
will come down and new entrant with least capital could not be able to survive
that will directly loss revenue of the state and businessmen. Also against the
main thought of this school to generate employments through retail of liquor sales
sector and quality liquor to its consumers as to fight price war they have
either have capacity to bear loss or they will compromise with quality of liquor.
This situation suits liquor manufacturing companies, corrupt excise and taxation officers and their political
bosses which offer retailers low price liquor by manufacturing more than allotted
quota without paying even single to state exchequer.
The third school says that government
should play some proactive role to enhance its revenue, ensure quality of the
liquor and to create conducive atmosphere for authorized businessmen indulged
in sale of liquor in the state. The opinion holders of this school say that government
should play some sort of proactive role in sale of liquor in the state in larger
public interest by taking whole sale of all liquor manufacturing companies
allowed to sell their liquor in state directly then allot the liquor to retailers
as per their demand/quota, it will not only curb the illegal manufacturing of
liquor by liquor manufacturing companies and selling it retailers and whole
sellers without paying excise duty to the state but will also ensure quality of
liquor along with additional amount of revenue to the state in shape of whole
sale margins and excise duty to be levied on additional volume of liquor that earlier
produced by companies evading excise
duty with connivance with corrupt officers.
After going through the
opinions of all three schools of thoughts it will be in the interest of general
public all stake holders to take all good thoughts all three schools for good governance
aimed BJP government that to enhance the state exchequer and quality liquor, the idea of whole sale business
should be with government and to make retail liquor business viable , Idea to
allot some sort minimum cluster of retail shops should offer so that it can
ensure some stability and profitability in retail business and also guarantee the realization
of estimated license fee from all the
vendors timely.
Dinesh Singh says, " We are living in welfare
State, where ultimate goal of state is to do maximum welfare of its citizens.
The governments irrespective of its political affiliations perform all their ethical
or unethical actions under the name of public interest, so there no harm if
government should do liquor business itself to earn more revenue for social welfare."