Panchayat Polls: ‘Dry Days’ Declared For Voting & Counting, Excise Commissioner Writes To Collectors

 Ahead of the crucial three-tier Panchayat polls, the Odisha government has announced restrictions on the sale of liquor across the State. Moreover, ‘dry days’ will be declared in the areas, and their adjoining places, for polling. The ban on sale of liquor will be in place for the counting days too.

It is pertinent to mention here that the elections to Panchayati Raj institutions in Odisha will be held in five phases between February 16 and 24.

In a letter, the State Excise Commissioner Ashish Kumar Singh has directed district Collectors and District Magistrates to declare ‘dry day’ and ensure closure of the licensed premises for retail sale of foreign liquor/IMFL country liquor in the constituency area and adjoining areas during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll up to the day following the poll day.

“This is in tune with Section 135 C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which provides that no spirituous, fermented or intoxicating liquors or other substances of like nature shall be sold, given on distributed at a hotel, eating house, shop or any other place, public or private, within a polling area within the respective wards during the period of 48 hours preceding the poll upto the day following poll day,” the letter read.

This will include the dates of re-poll, if any, the letter added. Apart from this, no liquor shop, hotel, restaurant, club and other establishments selling / serving liquor shall be permitted to sell/serve liquor to anyone during these days.

The Excise Commissioner, in his letter, has stated that non-proprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants and hotels run by anyone, even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply liquor, shall also not be permitted to serve liquor on these days.

The storage of liquor by individuals shall be curtailed during the above period and the restrictions provided in the Excise-law on the storage of liquor in unlicensed premises shall be vigorously enforced, the directive warned.

Apart from the prohibition for the poll days, there will also be restrictions on the sale of liquor for the counting days.

“There shall also be declaration of "Dry Day" U/S 26(1) of the Odisha Excise Act, 2008 read with Rule 45(3) of the Odisha Excise Rules, 2017 ensuring closure of licensed premises for retail sale of foreign liquor/lMFL/Country liquor within the respective Blocks on the days of counting of votes,” the letter added.

The counting of votes will be held centrally at the Block Headquarters from February 26 to February 28, 2022.