Play recorded music, Delhi govt to restro-bars; Sisodia pulls up excise officers over dept 's order

Days after the excise department issued a diktat allowing only "live singing and playing of instruments"at restro-bars in the city, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today said that there is no ban on recorded music in these establishments.

Sources said that the deputy chief minister pulled up the top officers of the excise department as to why the order was issued without its file being shown to him.

Sisodia, who also holds the charge of the excise department, pulled up the excise officers for "creating confusion" by issuing the May 16 order which stated that "only live singing and playing of instruments" are allowed in restro-bars.

Following Sisodia's directions, the excise department today issued a fresh circular in the evening, stating, "On the issue of playing of recorded music in the restaurants music, no new direction has been issued by the excise department."
In its order on May 16, the excise department had said, "L-17 (restaurants which serve food and alcohol to their customers) is permitted only to have live singing/playing of instruments by professionals within his licensed premises."