Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: Dry Days Announced During Voting and Counting

• Commercial Tax (Excise) Department Takes Measures for Alcohol Sales Restriction

TFP Bureau, Raipur; Oct 21, 2023: As the Chhattisgarh Assembly General Election 2023 approaches, the Commercial Tax (Excise) Department is taking steps to adhere to instructions from the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh, to regulate the sale of alcohol during this crucial period.In accordance with the received instructions, the Commercial Tax (Excise) Department has declared dry days on the voting dates of November 7, 2023, and November 17, 2023, as well as on the counting date of December 3, 2023. These dry days will be in effect from 48 hours before the end of voting until the conclusion of the voting process.

The instructions are comprehensive, covering all types of establishments dealing with liquor, including country, foreign, and composite liquor shops within the respective assembly constituencies. This also extends to bars, clubs, sainik canteens, country liquor storage warehouses, foreign liquor warehouses, as well as manufacturing distilleries, bottling units, and breweries, all of which fall under the purview of Section 24 of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act 1915.

Collectors of all districts have been directed to ensure the complete closure of all excise centers during the specified periods, in line with these directives. Additionally, the counting date of December 3, 2023, has been declared a dry day in areas encompassing the counting locations, with a ban on the sale and service of alcohol. Collectors are tasked with enforcing these restrictions rigorously.

Furthermore, during this period, strict measures have been put in place to prevent the personal storage of liquor and its storage in unlicensed premises under excise rules. These regulations extend to cannabis and bhang shops, which will also remain closed from 48 hours before the end of voting until voting concludes.

To ensure comprehensive compliance, liquor shops and establishments in other districts neighboring the assembly constituencies and in bordering states have also been instructed to close during the voting days. A formal communication has been issued to the adjacent states sharing borders with Chhattisgarh, urging them to take necessary actions in this regard.