Committee seeks more time to frame Delhi’s new excise policy

Ten News Network

New Delhi, 11 October 2022: According to authorities, the new excise policy of Delhi government (2022-23) is likely to be postponed since a high-level committee set up to draft its general framework has asked for extra time to deliver its findings.

According to a senior officer, the committee has asked the administration for more time so that it can provide its findings based on objective field research of other programmes being carried out by other states.

It is stated that a month was not enough time to develop a “flawless” strategy in light of the current circumstances and controversy surrounding the previous policy of 2021–2022.

In July, the Delhi government had withdrawn the Excise Policy 2021–22 after a CBI probe was executed following Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena’s recommendation.

Previously, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia had stated that a new policy would be drafted within six months after the Excise Policy 2021–22 was withdrawn.

It was mandated that the committee established to make suggestions for the new excise policy for 2022–2023 deliver its findings within one month. The excise commissioner, principal secretaries of revenue and finance, and an expert member make up the committee, which was established in August.

However, it was unable to do so for a number of reasons, including the current CBI investigation into the excise policy for 2021–22, according to the officials.

It is believed that travelling to other states to study their excise policies would aid in developing a fresh, effective excise policy for Delhi, officials stated.