Haryana Panchayat Election: Poll Panel to notify 'dry days'

Chandigarh, Dec 28: To ensure peaceful, free and fair Panchayat elections in Haryana next month, the State Election Commission (SEC) would notify 'dry days', to prohibit sale or supply of liquor, during the polls as are appropriate at or around the areas where it is to be held.

The 'dry days' so declared and notified would include a period of 48 hours ending with the time fixed for conclusion of poll and the day on which counting of votes is to be taken up, Rajeev Sharma, State Election Commissioner of Haryana said here today.

"No proprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants etc and hotels run by anyone even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply of liquor, would be permitted to serve liquors on these days," he said.

Storage of liquors by individuals would be curtailed during the period and the restrictions provided in the Excise laws on the storage in unlicensed premises would be vigorously enforced, Sharma said.

Steps would also be taken to prohibit the sale of liquor in adjoining areas, to eradicate chances of clandestine movement of liquor from those areas, where the restriction has not been imposed, Sharma added.

PTI