PANJIM: Even as the Election Commission (EC) is willing to review the decision pertaining to new closure timings of eateries and hotels, it is in no mood to extend such relaxation to bars and hotels serving liquor.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer Narayan Navti told media here that if it receives an appeal from a group of traders that their business is affected by the notification, they might review the
decision but it is not possible to review its decision pertaining to shops and bars serving alcohol.
“It is practically impossible to change the timings for liquor shops now,” said Navti when specifically asked if they would consider any such appeal made by the liquor owners association that has been agitating against the EC’s directive.
The notification issued has fixed new closure timings for hotels, eateries, bars and restaurants directing them to close down at 11 pm starting from January 25 till February 6. Whereas between February 6 and March 6, the closure timing has been fixed at 10 pm.
Navti said it is possible to review their decision pertaining to eateries when it was pointed out that tourists are facing problems since the hotels are being shut early. He also pointed out that so far they have not received any appeal from hoteliers complaining that their businesses have suffered due to the notification.
However, he emphatically ruled out that EC would give such benefit to liquor shops too. The decision about new closure timings was a joint exercise, and the decision was taken after taking into consideration law and problem, he added.
“The decision has been taken only to avoid law and order problem,” said Navti.
