Karnataka gets relief

Owners of liquor shops can heave a sigh of relief as Supreme Court has set a deadline till Sept. 30, 2017 to relocate their shops from State and National Highways. However, highway liquor shops in Karnataka will have to be shifted by June 30 as the State’s Excise Year is from July 1 to June 30.

The SC yesterday granted relief to States where the annual excise period extends beyond Apr. 1, 2017, which was when the Dec. 15, 2016 order would have come into force.

On the issue of non-extension of liquor vendors licences beyond Mar. 31, the Apex Court said the licences, which were given before Dec. 15, 2016, will be valid till Sept. 30 in the case of Telangana and the same would be operational till June 30 in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Mysuru Division Excise DC Jagadish Naik said that there were about 230 such shops in Mysuru and added that they  would be given time till June 30 to shift their shops beyond 500 metres off the highways.

He also said that licenses of shops which violate rules would not be renewed after the deadline. However, he also mentioned that the modified SC order allowed liquor shops to be set up beyond 220 metres off the highways where the population was less than 20,000. He mentioned that the order was applicable for all liquor licences irrespective of it being a liquor shop, bar and restaurant, resort or any other establishment.