Why ONLY Strict Laws on Flex Banners & Liquor Sales during Elections & Why Not All Year Long?
Mangaluru: After the Election Code of Conduct came to effect, a total of 337 liters of alcohol worth Rs 1,15,000 was seized and also 52 cases were booked for excise violations, said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sasikanth Senthil during a press meet recently. He also mentioned that as many as 10 wall writings, 1,901 posters, 4,376 banners and 3,900 others, a total of 10,187 defacement had been removed from public places. In private places, 156 posters, 65 banners, 487 others, a total of 708 defacement had been remove. Okay, good job by the district administration and other concerned officials.
As soon as the election code of conduct kicked in, the Election Commissioner had imposed some strict liquor laws until the elections are over- and due to that the scenes around the wine shops have wore a deserted look- if not the areas around these wine shops are seen packed with customers sipping on their favorite booze served besides or behind these wine shops. But a question need to ask is that why is that ONLY during election time these liquor laws are strictly followed. Isn’t it that these Laws should be followed throughout the year- irrespective of election or not! Funny and strange, which is happening ONLY in India, I guess!
Before Election Code of Conduct….
Come April 19 or a few days later, the scenes at all the wine shops, bars, and pubs will be back to square one- where wine shops will start serving liquor to their clients illegally, pubs and bars will stay open past night closing time, will open early in the earning etc etc. Now the wine shops and bars don’t even open until 10 am due to election mode of conduct, if not you could see some wine shops open as early 5 am or 6 am in the morning-like the one near Bunder Dakke {Port}, where all the fishermen have their morning dose of energy tonic every single day??
These Strict law enforcement have left no fizz in the liquor biz before polls, making it one of the driest ever. At some of the wine shops there are hardly any customers, and also during the weekend, which is unimaginable. But that is what hundreds of them have been like in the last few days. With the Excise authorities (with the Election Commission in charge) strictly implementing the rules, wine stores are making less business. Stocks of many brands of liquor have run out. Licences of many wine stores have been suspended for violating rules. The cats have been belled and the liquor business has lost its fizz. This election has turned out to be the driest ever.
The same has been with the case of illegal flex banners/hoardings, which all year long, no one imposes strict rules, but only when the election code of conduct kicks in, everybody gets into action. The city has become free from flex hoardings, buntings and banners- thanks to the mode of conduct during election. All advertisement materials irrespective of politicians, religious institutions etc have removed, FINALLY! Speaking to media MCC Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Ms Gayathri Nayak said, “We have succeeded in removing 95% of the illegal banners/hoardings, and have also conducted drives and cleared such materials. As per rules, flex boards are not allowed”.
………….. After
“But people are ignoring the rules, and displaying such materials. In order to rectify this ongoing issue we have formed a team under the nodal officer to carry out drives against flex hoardings and other such display materials. We have stopped issuing permission for flex boards and also requested the people to cooperate by nit disfiguring public places. Cases will be booked in future against those who violate rules as per the provision of the Karnataka Open Places Prevention of Disfigurement Act 1981. We will slowly implement the rules very strictly around the year. People should use their civic sense on such issues” added Ms Nayak.
Okay, well said by the MCC Deputy Commissioner- but similarly in the past many commissioners, Mayors and concerned authorities have assured the same action to be taken against violators of flex rules, but all in vain. Once the elections are over, it is back to the same old story. So we will have to wait and see, whether Ms Gayathri Nayak will keep up her word on this issue, and thereby be a role model to others, or whether she will follow in the footsteps of other officials who had broken their promises.
Coming back to sale of liquor, what does the law says? The Model Code of Conduct asks parties and candidates abstain from serving or distributing alcohol to voters when the poll code is in force. On polling day and 48 hours preceding it, dry days will be declared to ensure they don’t influence voters will liquor. The confiscated liquor is disposed under the prohibition law. Those bottles deemed unfit for consumption are straight away destroyed and then the rest are taken to an excise departmental store, which are sold to Karnataka Beverages Corporation. Well said in the laws-but why only these liquor laws have to be followed ONLY during election time.
Now, once the elections are over, all the corrupt officials from the Excise department, apart from our cops, will be once again starting to make their extra buck from these liquor business owners. Among the most corrupted officials that you can find in the government sector, are the ones employed with the Excise Department. It’s not my opinion, ask anyone owning a bar or liquor shop. One of my friend who owns a bar and a liquor shop says that he spends a few thousands per month in order to keep the excise officials happy, and also so that he can operate his business without any hassles or harassment from them. No wonder these excise officials mint so much extra income- the proof is that when the Income Tax sleuths raid their homes, they find stack of currency hidden in the house, also few cars, jewellery etc- just mere government salary won’t add to all these assets. This is all bribe money earned in a corrupt manner!
How strict are these excise officials on wine shops serving liquor to their patrons at the side or behind their shops? It’s the monthly payment to the cops and excise officials that they allow such activity. How many times how the cops or excise officials raided a bar or a wine shop, other than a lounge/pub every now and then? That’s because lounge/pub owner don’t entertain them with bribe etc- so they are always targeted, whereas bar/wine shop owners bribe them in order to earn little extra money, keeping business hours past regular closing hours.
By having all these restrictions we are giving more scope to illegal dealings, corruption in the except/police dept etc. People who can’t live without alcohol know where to get liquor on a dry day? This ban on liquor or restriction is stupidity of certain lawmakers and department officials, who are the first ones CORRUPT and the First ones to BREAK THE LAW? Some of our laws are nothing but a combination of Strictness and Stupidity! While we welcome the law to be implemented strictly, but there are loopholes, where the laws are abused, especially by the dept officials. The excise officials were quick in arresting in innocent people, while many of the crooks/criminals/goondas are still on the loose, which our officials are struggling to apprehend. What a society are we living in? Racism and discrimination is playing a vital role in this regard.
In conclusion, what is the point in having all these liquor laws and flex laws when they are NOT strictly enforced, EXCEPT during election time? All the excise officials and police who have lost all their extra moolah during the last few days are anxiously waiting for the election liquor restrictions to get over, so that they can once again be on the same bribe/corrupt track, and make their living a easy way, on the account of these liquor business owners. Oh well, I guess nothing much could be done- the trend has been going on for years, and suppose they will continue in future too. upt , so nothing much could be done. Until then, CHEERS!
Also Read Related Articles:
- Illegal Hoarding/Banner Display Rules should be EQUAL Irrespective of Religion or Politics
- Battle of the Hoardings! Free Publicity Galore Via Illegal Banners/Hoardings