Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 14: The State government, in an attempt to bring transparency in public affairs, is mulling to bring liquor shops under the purview of e-auction.
These excise shops are likely to be e-auctioned from the 2015-16 financial year, sources at the excise department said. They said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given his nod to the proposal.
According to excise department officials, e-auction will be done for IMFL off and country spirit (CS) as well as out still (OS) shops in the state.
Sources said the state government has got nod from the Supreme Court (SC) to initiate this.
Earlier, the state government had planned e-auction in the financial year 2014-15. But some petitions were filed in the Orissa High Court opposing the proposal. The High Court quashed the state government’s decision and laid down 10 conditions for the e-auctions in July 2013.
When the government moved the apex court, it allowed the state government to start the process with four conditions and put a stay on other six conditions set by the High Court.
SC clarified that applicants with criminal background cannot participate in the process while others have to comply with the important conditions.
While Orissa will be the first state to implement e-auction of excise shops, officials from the excise department said the move will result in better transparency and higher revenue generation for the state.
Currently, around 1130 IMFL and over 500 country spirit shops are operating in the state.
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