THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise Minister M Liju on Tuesday said he had sought an explanation from Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao for sanctioning bar licence to an airport lounge despite the government objecting to a similar application earlier.
“The department granted two licences without the government’s knowledge. Application for a third was forwarded to the government, but the government replied that a decision could be taken only after the new excise policy was adopted. Still, proceedings were initiated on a fresh application,” Liju told TNIE.
Rejecting reports that he had approached Chief Minister V D Satheesan seeking the excise commissioner’s removal, Liju said, “I am not against any individual but want to correct the system.”
Commissioner should have consulted government: Min
Speaking to the media earlier, Liju said the commissioner should have consulted the government before taking the decision.
“The commissioner had forwarded the application seeking FL-7 bar licence at Nedumbassery airport and the government had made it clear that a decision could be taken only after the new excise policy came out. Earlier applications were sent to the government, that’s why the commissioner did not receive the communication,” Liju said. On whether Rao would be removed, he said, “Those are administrative decisions.”
Liju also said several rules from the previous government’s period required revision, like its decision to grant lower-level officers power to take many decisions without the government’s knowledge.
“The previous government authorised deputy commissioners to convert beer and wine parlours into bars without the permission of the excise commissioner or the government. As a result, 488 parlours became bars,” he said. Liju also alleged the rules it amended allowed the LDF government to evade responsibility and paved the way for corruption.
“Every loophole created by the previous government will be closed,” he said. Asked why he did not know about the conversion earlier, Liju retorted by saying the media came to know about the conversion after the government took action, not the other way around. The granting of bar licence to Kochi airport’s domestic lounge came to light following a complaint filed before the administrative tribunal by the deputy commissioners who were suspended.
