Govt will revisit excise rules, Karnataka minister tells legislative assembly
Belagavi, Dec 5: Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur on Tuesday said rules for issuing liquor licences to hotels and boarding houses will be revisited, with ruling Congress legislators in the Assembly alleging that there are large-scale irregularities in the process.
The minister announced the decision during the Question Hour, responding to a question raised by Bangarpet MLA S N Narayanaswamy, who sought details on the process being followed to sanction such licences (CL-7) in Kolar district.
Noting that about 70 per cent of the rules are not being followed, Narayanaswamy cited an example of CL-7 licence sanctioned to a hotel business with just 9x7 feet space for vehicle parking.
He also charged excise superintendent Rangappa with issuing CL-7 licence indiscriminately, and even alleged that the latter was also a partner in every business for which he issued the licence.
Congress MLA from Kolar district's Malur, K Y Nanjegowda said the issue of CL-7 licence is "big business", while another ruling party legislator from Sagar Gopala Krishna Belur termed it a scam worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore, and demanded an investigation.
With Narayanaswamy and other Congress legislators alleging that rules were being flouted, Timmapur said 18 documents or certificates are needed by the government to sanction the CL-7 licence.
He said, there are 2,465 CL-7 licence holders in the state, including 56 in Kolar.
During the debate, some Congress MLAs also sought to allege that irregularities took place when the BJP was in power, prompting the then Excise Minister K Gopalaiah to deny the charge, and challenge the government to get it probed.
Intervening, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said, "Be it our government or some other, let there be an investigation, and let such licences be cancelled."
Timmapur, acknowledging the flaws, noted that the law is not specific when it comes to parking space and the design of rooms or lodges, and specifications will be introduced in the days to come.
Regarding allegations made against Rangappa, the minister assured the House that he will seek a report and take action.
Meanwhile, Malavalli Congress MLA P M Narendraswamy urged the government to introduce reservations in excise licences, to which the minister said the law needed to be amended.
However, BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar and Ashoka said the number of liquor shops should not be increased in the name of reservation.
"We have no problem if you want to provide reservation, but don't increase the number of liquor shops," Ashoka said, pointing out that during his recent visit to Doddaballapura, he found liquor being sold in a general store, and urged the government not to make more people drink.
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CJI's advice to aspirant: Join the bar, become a lawyer, don't hanker for judicial services post
New Delhi (PTI): She came to the Supreme Court seeking a re-evaluation of her paper in the examination for joining judicial services as a magistrate. What she got instead was a rejection — and a candid confession by the Chief Justice that he too had wanted to join the judicial services in his youth but was advised by a senior judge to become a lawyer instead.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on Friday dismissed a plea filed by Prerna Gupta, the judicial services aspirant.
As Gupta pressed her case, the CJI intervened and said, "Let me share my personal story and I hope you will go happily as we cannot allow your petition."
He recounted his time as a final-year law student in 1984 when he wanted to become a judicial officer. As per requirement, he cleared the written test and was set to appear for an interview.
Judicial services is one of the two routes to become a judge after initially joining as a magistrate in lower court and thereafter rising through the ranks to become judge in a high court and possibly the Supreme Court.
The other route is to join the Bar, which means becoming a lawyer, and after building a reputation be picked from the Bar to become a judge at a senior level.
By the time the CJI's exam results came out, he had started practising at the Punjab and Haryana High Court when he was called for the interview.
The senior-most judge on the interview panel happened to be a judge before whom he had recently argued two significant matters.
"One of the matters was Sunita Rani vs Baldev Raj, where he had allowed my appeal in a matrimonial case and set aside the decree of divorce granted by the District Judge on the ground of schizophrenia," he noted.
Before the interview could take place, the judge called the young Surya Kant to his chamber and asked, 'Do you want to become a judicial officer?'
"I said 'yes.' He immediately said, 'Get out from (my) the chamber.'"
The courtroom fell silent as the CJI Justice described his initial heartbreak.
“I came out trembling. All my dreams were shattered. I thought he had snubbed me and that my career was over,” the CJI said.
However, the story took another turn the following day and the judge summoned him again, this time offering a piece of advice that would change the trajectory of his life.
“He said, ‘If you want to become (a judge), you are welcome. But my advice is, don’t become a judicial officer. The Bar is waiting for you,’” Justice Surya Kant recalled.
The CJI said he decided to skip his interview and didn't even tell his parents at first, fearing their disappointment, and instead chose to dedicate himself to his practice as an advocate.
“Now tell me did I make a bad right or bad decision,” the CJI asked and the litigant lawyer left the court with a smile on her face despite her case being dismissed.
Encouraging the petitioner to look toward the future rather than dwelling on the re-evaluation of a single paper, Justice Surya Kant said, "The Bar has much to offer."
