In view of the Lok Sabha elections in Puducherry on April 18, the Excise Department has ordered the closure of all wholesale and retail liquor shops, bars attached to restaurants, arrack and toddy shops in the Union Territory from April 16 to 18.
J. Dayalane, Under Secretary, Revenue, said sale of arrack, toddy and liquor will be prohibited in hotels, restaurants with bars from April 16 till April 18.
All liquor shops will be closed on May 23 as per the directions of the Election Commission of India.
Liquor shops and restaurants with bars in the Union Territory will not be allowed to serve or sell liquor on the above mentioned dates.
The Excise department has also ordered the closure of all wholesale and retail liquor shops in Mahe, an enclave of the UT in Kerala from April 21 to April 23 in view of polling in Kozhikode and Kannur districts of Kerala. Similarly, all liquor shops will remain closed in Yanam, an enclave of the UT in Andhra Pradesh from April 9 to 11 in view of polling in East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.
Cuddalore
In Cuddalore, district administration has ordered the closure of all IMFL outlets under the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), bars attached to Tasmac outlets and FL3 category bars in hotels from April 16 to 18.
In a statement, Collector V. Anbuselvan said that sale of liquor will be prohibited in Tasmac outlets, hotels and restaurants with bars and military canteens from 10 a.m. on April 16 till April 18. All liquor shops will remain closed on May 23 (counting day) as per the directions of the Election Commission of India.
The district administration has issued directions to curtail the distribution and sale of liquor and strict action will be taken against the supervisors of the Tasmac outlets, he said.