Many people from Punjab travel to Chandigarh to buy liquor because it is often available at lower prices, however, an excise expert has warned that bringing liquor from Chandigarh into Punjab is generally not permitted under Punjab's excise laws.
People who ignore the rules could face legal action, including registration of an FIR, seizure of the liquor and even seizure of the vehicle used for transportation.
Speaking on the issue, the excise expert said that once a person crosses the Punjab border, the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 comes into force and even if the liquor was purchased legally in Chandigarh, it cannot automatically be transported into Punjab.
According to the expert, there is a limited exception in certain situations, if the liquor has been purchased in Chandigarh and the bottle has already been opened for personal consumption, one or two bottles may be treated as exempt, however, this does not apply to sealed bottles being transported into Punjab.
The expert further stated that if officials find liquor being brought into Punjab in violation of the law, action can be taken under Section 78(2) of the Punjab Excise Act and depending on the facts of the case, authorities can seize the liquor, register an FIR and seize the vehicle allegedly used for illegal transportation.
The expert also said that such cases can attract serious legal consequences and stated that offences under the relevant provisions may fall in the non-bailable category, depending on the section invoked and the facts of the case.
The expert explained that punishment is not the same in every case and if the matter reaches court and the accused is found guilty under the applicable provisions, the court decides the punishment based on the facts and circumstances of the case. Factors such as the quantity of liquor recovered, the nature of the alleged offence and other relevant circumstances may be taken into consideration while deciding the penalty and the court may impose imprisonment, a fine or both, depending on the offence proved under the law.
Officials have repeatedly advised people to check the applicable excise rules before carrying liquor across state borders and many buyers focus only on the lower prices available in Chandigarh but may not be aware that different states have different excise laws. What may be a legal purchase in one place does not automatically permit transportation into another state.
The expert advised that people should avoid carrying liquor from Chandigarh into Punjab unless it is permitted under the applicable law and failing to follow the rules can result in seizure of liquor, legal proceedings and other action under the Punjab Excise Act.