Thiruvananthapuram, The Keralam government on Friday transferred Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao amid dissatisfaction expressed by Excise Minister M Liju over officials in the department issuing bar and horti-wine licences, officials said.
An order to this effect was issued by the General Administration Department. “The officer is relieved of the charge of Excise Commissioner with immediate effect.
The Additional Excise Commissioner will hold the charge of Excise Commissioner until further orders,” the order said.
Liju has announced that the UDF government’s liquor policy will be presented by the end of this month. Liju also said the government had informed the High Court that no fresh licences would be issued until the new policy was announced. Liju had openly expressed dissatisfaction after three bars in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts were granted licences under the liquor policy of the previous LDF government. The minister maintained that the UDF government was in the process of formulating its liquor policy and that no licences should be granted under the previous government’s policy until the new one was finalised.
He said action had been taken against Deputy Excise Commissioners for issuing bar licences while the government was formulating a new liquor policy.
