Excise licence process for Delhi hotels, bars tweaked
Applications of those seeking an excise license will go to the licensing authority only two times instead of four, officials said. This will prevent redundancy in the process, thereby saving time
The excise department of the Delhi government has simplified the process of approval of a liquor license for hotels, clubs, and restaurants to enable ease of doing business, according to officials and documents seen by HT.
This means that applications of those seeking an excise license will go to the licensing authority only two times instead of four, the officials said on Friday. This will prevent redundancy in the process, thereby saving time, the officials added, but clarified that the level of scrutiny during the process remains the same.
“The file seeking license for serving of liquor in hotel, club and restaurants used to go to the licensing authority four times till the final issuance of the license. Under the new process, the file is required to go to the licensing authority only two times. It has been aimed at reducing the time taken to issue the license,” said an excise official, asking not to be named.
A separate excise official said that the changes, approved by the excise commissioner who is the sole authority in issuance of the license, are in operation since July 21.
“The exercise was limited to simplifying the processes of issuing fresh HCR (Hotel, Club and Restaurant) license with an aim to speed up the process within the existing licensing framework. The excise commissioner is the competent authority for approving the changes in the process. The approval of the higher authorities was not required for it,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
Explaining the changes in the process, the official cited in the first instance said that earlier a file was put up before the licensing authority (deputy commissioner, excise) after the application was examined by the department subject to furnishing of the required documents. The authority then used to depute an inspection team at the premises, the officials said, after which, an inspection report was again placed before the authority and a file was processed for the affixation of notice under Excise rules at the premises.
But now, the inspection team will get the approval of affixing the notice simultaneously and will put up the notice if they find the premises to be suitable, said the official.
The compliance burden has also been reduced for initiation of offer letter and HCR license on payment of license fee. “After completion of the notice period, if objections are not received, the file will be placed before licensing authority for simultaneous initiation of offer letter and HCR license,” said the official.
Under the old system, the file was submitted to the authority for the final approval for the issuance of HCR license. “Under the new system, on receipt of the payment confirmation, the licensing authority will notify the license online on same day and the applicant will receive copy of license through registered mail,” said the official.
Delhi currently has 950 HCR licensees. Around 50 new licenses are issued every year, according to officials.
National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) officials welcomed the decision. Rahul Singh, trustee of NRAI, said: “The new SOP for time bound disposal of license application is a move in the positive direction to boost ease of doing business. The measure will provide opening of outlets on their schedule, which would result in better consumer experience, job creation and tax revenues to the exchequer.”