Panaji
Michael Carrasco, president, All Goa Bars & Restaurants Owners Association, said, “We are waiting to hear from the SC as to whether the order is applicable to bars and restaurants or not. In the meanwhile, we have approached the excise department, but they have said that they will issue notices to stop serving alcohol even to bars and restaurants because in their opinion, the order is applicable to such establishments as well.”
Bars and restaurants in Goa have found themselves in a precarious situation. On one hand, advocate general Lotikar has said that the order isn’t applicable to them in his view, but on the other hand, the new State government has not come to office yet. The new government is unlikely to be in office before mid-March, while the SC order has to be implemented by March 31.
Carrasco continued, “All India Federation of Hotels has already approached the SC asking to clarify whether the order is applicable to bars and restaurants or not. Meanwhile, the union territory of Puducherry has also approached the apex court asking several exemptions, including that it shouldn’t be applicable to bars and restaurants.”
In Goa, vendors are yet approached the SC. But, in the event SC clarifies that its order is not applicable to bars and restaurants, then this will also be applicable to bars & restaurants in Goa as well.
Bars and restaurants in Goa are hoping for a favourable clarification from the apex court, but are still nervous as the excise department is soon expected to start sending them notices.
