EC: No new liquor brands in TN till end of electoral process

The Election Commission has deferred the introduction of new brands by Indian Made Foreign Spirit manufacturers through Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation outlets in the state till completion of the Assembly election process.

The EC's direction came to light in a writ petition that came up for hearing on April 12 before the First Bench of Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam.

The petitioner Golden Vats Private Limited, a newly-founded company, had sought quashing of a TASMAC order, putting on hold the introduction of its brands in the state.

In the counter filed through its counsel, TASMAC said it had written to the Principal Secretary of Prohibition and Excise Department seeking clarifications on whether the introduction of one new brand each month by the existing manufacturers may be continued in light of the Model Code of Conduct coming into force.

In its letter, TASMAC had said there was already scarcity of beer and "hundreds of shops have nil stock daily".

TASMAC submitted that later Deputy Election Commission of India informed Tamil Nadu Government that the EC had "considered the various issues raised by TASMAC" and informed that "the proposal might be deferred till the election process was over".

TASMAC MD Sandeep Saxena said, "TASMAC could not proceed further as the EC has ordered to defer the matter."

The Bench adjourned the matter for further hearing next week.