Panaji: At the backdrop to latest controversy regarding SMS sent by Excise Department with regards to Mobile App, the Excise Commissioner has clarified that use of the app is not compulsory at present for the licence holders to register.
In a press statement issued, Commissioner Amit has clarified that the use of mobile App is not compulsory at present and licensees are free to maintain records in physical manner.
Further only Licensees dealing in sale of liquor in Packed bottles (wholesale and retail) are expected to use this App and not the tavern, Bar and restaurants since most of them use small qnatities of different types of liquor in their day to day transaction.
All licensees are supposed to maintain Account of Liquor Transaction as per Rule 101 of Goa Excise Duty Act and Rules 1964 and submit the record on Monthly basis to the department.
Most of the licensees maintain this record in physical matter in a register kept with them and show it to the Excise Inspector when asked for.
Department got one Mobile App prepared through NIC before the Lok Sabha election to make it easier for the licensees to maintain and submit this record. It was started in March 2019 and approximately 1000 licensees were already using it as they found the digital mode more convenient.
In a view to spread awareness, department sent SMS to all registered licensees to further popularise the Mobile App and spread awareness about the provision of the Act.
