JOIN USSEC Secretary M D Ravindranath told Deccan Herald that the the commission was looking into a letter from Commissioner of Excise in this connection. There have been demands from several groups that the curbs on sale of liquor be relaxed on New Year’s eve.
On Tuesday, the SEC had informed the Karnataka High Court that it would not come in the way of the New Year revelry, if the Excise officials gave an undertaking to monitor the sale of liquor. However, in a memo submitted to the court, the SEC said transportation of liquor would not be allowed under any circumstances.
As per the election code of conduct, sale and consumption of liquor is prohibited on the eve of the polling day and the day of polling. However, the SEC had said that it can relax the prohibition on December 31 after 8 pm. But the relaxation order, when issued, would not apply to Gulbarga as the election is scheduled to be held on January 1 in that district.