23-05-2025
Cancel clearance to restaurants serving liquor without licence: Excise Department to Delhi Police
Calling for strict action against restaurants selling liquor without permission, the Excise Department has urged the Delhi Police to cancel the eating house licence for such establishments.
In the letter to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing), Delhi Police, the Excise Department underlined, 'It is to inform you that recently the department conducted a surprise inspection and found that some of the restaurants are selling liquor without a valid excise licence…Sale of liquor without a valid excise licence is an offence under the Delhi Excise Act 2009 and rules framed there under…'
'The department has lodged FIRs against these offenders, and it is requested to take action against the owner of the said restaurant for selling liquor without valid excise licence in order to discourage such wrongdoers as well as to prevent loss of government revenue,' the letter further read, adding, '…It is requested to take necessary action for cancellation of eating house licence issued by your office considering that the licensee has indulged himself/herself in unlawful activities amounting to loss of government revenue.'
A senior official explained that the Delhi Police issues an eating house licence and police clearance certificate, agencies like MCD and NDMC issue health licence, and the Fire Department issues NOC and fire safety clearance to the restaurants.
The Excise Department had launched an aggressive drive against the unlicensed premises in April and conducted more than 40 raids in different parts of the city. Officials said that more than 24 restaurants and cafes were serving liquor without a valid licence.
A majority of these restaurants were located in West and Northwest Delhi in locations such as Timarpur, Rajouri Garden, Rajender Nagar, Mayapuri, Punjabi Bagh, Kirti Nagar, among others. Some of the restaurants were located in South and East Delhi in locations such as Kalkaji, Hauz Khas, Laxmi Nagar, Paharganj, Preet Vihar, among others.
'The Excise Department conducts several raids and takes action like filing FIRs against the restaurant owners…But these people come out of jail on bail and start their restaurant again after some time and repeat the same offence…So to prevent this, the department has written to Delhi Police and other departments that give licences and other permissions to a restaurant,' said a senior official.
Following the crackdown, officials said, the Excise Department has received at least 10 applications from restaurants seeking a licence to serve liquor on their premises.
Earlier this month, the department also issued a five-day deadline to all the defaulting Hotel, Clubs, and Restaurants (HCR) licensees for submitting a police clearance certificate (PCC). It warned of strict action under the Delhi Excise Act and Rules.
