The Justice A S Naidu Commission, probing the liquor tragedy in Cuttack and Khurda districts, on Monday directed the Excise Department to submit an affidavit of its staff position.
The directions came in response to the plea of the Excise Commissioner seeking more time to file affidavit on the procurement and use of alcohol in different medicinal preparations, including the alternative systems such as ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy.
The Commission asked the Excise Commissioner to submit details on the total staff strength, existing vacancies, requirement of more staff and steps taken to fill up the vacancies. It allowed him to file the affidavit by September 16. The Commission has included procurement of alcohol for medicinal purpose and use of alcohol by homeopathic medicine manufacturers in the enquiry.
More than 40 persons in Cuttack and Khurda districts had succumbed after consumption of spurious alcohol laced medicinal formulations in February this year.