NEW DELHI, September 06 (H.S.): The Delhi Government’s Excise Department has conducted a public auction of more than 2,000 vehicles that had remained parked for a prolonged period at and around various police stations across the city. In a parallel administrative initiative, the department has also cleared the entire backlog of more than 5,000 pending chemical analysis cases related to police matters at the Excise Control Laboratory, bringing the number of active pending cases down to zero. Both measures are aimed at expediting long-pending procedures, ensuring better utilisation of government resources and making enforcement of excise laws more effective. The information was provided through a statement issued on Sunday.

More than 2,000 vehicles seized under the Delhi Excise Act had been lying for a long time outside police stations and on adjoining public land. To address the issue, the Excise Department undertook a special disposal drive under the Delhi Excise Act. As part of the initiative, the processes for seizure and public auction were streamlined, resulting in the auction of more than 2,000 vehicles.

The action has also yielded significant economic and administrative benefits. Timely auction of the vehicles helped prevent further depreciation in the value of the seized assets and generated revenue of more than Rs 5 crore for the government. The removal of the vehicles has also freed up space that had remained occupied in police station premises and on public land for a prolonged period. The process is continuing to ensure that the remaining seized vehicles are systematically identified and disposed of.

In parallel, the Excise Department has undertaken a major administrative overhaul of the functioning of the Excise Control Laboratory. More than 5,000 old chemical analysis cases related to police investigations had been pending at the laboratory. The department has disposed of all these pending cases, bringing the active backlog down to zero.

Earlier, laboratory reports on samples of seized liquor could take years to be prepared. This resulted in substantial delays in related police investigations and subsequently affected legal proceedings. To address the situation, personnel have been recruited against posts that had remained vacant for a long period.

The faster availability of chemical analysis reports is expected to directly benefit the enforcement of excise laws and police investigations. According to the department, a more efficient testing system will strengthen excise enforcement capabilities and help develop an effective deterrent against the smuggling of illicit liquor.

Timely chemical analysis reports will also assist the police in completing investigations and filing charge sheets within the stipulated timeframe. This, in turn, is expected to facilitate the effective progression of cases before courts and contribute towards improving conviction rates.

The Chief Minister said that the government’s resolve was not limited to formulating schemes, but extended to making the system of governance more transparent, accountable, efficient and result-oriented. The time-bound disposal of cases pending for years, better utilisation of government resources and expediting administrative procedures are important steps towards achieving good governance, the Chief Minister said.

“Our clear objective is to ensure that the Delhi Government takes decisions swiftly, completes pending work on a priority basis and places public interest above everything else,” the Chief Minister said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar