The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Overstaying excise officials to be shifted

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Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Overstaying excise officials to be shifted

Staff Reporter

There are about 450 excise inspectors in the State
There are about 9,000 liquor outlets in Karnataka

BANGALORE: The Excise Department is planning to transfer officials overstaying in the same post and in the same place. Many officials are staying longer in the same place for more than the prescribed period of three years.

“There are many cases of officials overstaying in the same place. We have decided to reorganise the system afresh,” said State Excise Commissioner Aravind Jannu.

He was responding a query by The Hindu on a representation given to the Governor's office by a section of department officials against officers continuing in the same position for a long time.

The representation cited the case of Y. Bharatesh, inspector with the State Excise Intelligence Bureau. It said the official who joined the department as sub-inspector in 1998, had been continuing in the same place even after being promoted. Though representations were given to the commissioner, no action had been taken, it said.

Sources in the department said that in a recent transfer order about 58 officials were transferred, some of whom had not completed the minimum tenure while some were not shown the place of posting. Eight officials, who were not given posting, approached the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal and obtained a stay.

Mr. Jannu said he had asked his staff to collect data on officials overstaying in their positions.

“I took charge a couple of months ago and by that time the general transfers were over. By July 1, the Excise Year had started and I didn't want to disturb the officials by effecting fresh transfers,” he said.

The commissioner said by December the entire exercise of data collection and compiling should be over, and fresh transfers, based on the data so collected, would be given effect to by March–April. This would neither affect the Excise Year nor the officials whose children could be studying in schools and colleges.

There are about 450 excise inspectors in the State, and about 48 in Bangalore. Posting to Ashoknagar, Koramangala, Viveknagar and surrounding places is most sought after as these places house the highest number of watering holes. The city has about 4,000 liquor outlets, including hotels and clubs, and there are about 9,000 across the State.

On the other hand, the State Excise Intelligence Bureau has jurisdiction throughout the State to gather information about excise rules violation, illegal transportation of spirit and liquor and the like. The bureau also has powers to book cases and levy fine.

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