Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir Excise Department Wednesday strongly rebutted the news being circulated on various social media platforms regarding the increase in number of vends (Wine Shops) in Jammu & Kashmir, terming it as fake and baseless.
A communication issued by the department in this regard stated that “As per J&K Excise Policy for the year 2025-26 notified vide SO 38 dated 15th February, 2025, 305 number of vends (Wine Shops) were put to e-auction on 15.02.2025 and after culmination of the bidding process, 271 vends got allotted through the e-auction process (which was conducted by J&K Bank) to the successful H1 bidders and rest of 34 locations are being put to re-auction through Public Notice Issued on 07.03.2025 and bidding process (again to be conducted by the J&K Bank) shall be completed on 17.03.2025 for these 34 vends.”
The document further added that, “It is relevant to mention that the number of JKEL-2 vends (Wine Shops) remained unchanged i.e. 305, since FY 2023-24 and there is no increase in the number of vends, either in Jammu or in Kashmir. The breakup of the vends (Wine Shops) is: Jammu-291 and Kashmir – 14).”
All details regarding the Excise Policy along with location of the vends (Wine Shops) etc is available on the official website of the Excise Department i.e. https://jkexcise.nic.in
No New Liquor Vends Allotted By My Govt: CM
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah meanwhile said no new liquor vends were being allotted by his government and only earlier allotted ones were auctioned.
The chief minister’s remarks came after reports that the government has launched bids for 83 new liquor shops in J&K.
“NO NEW LIQUOR VENDS ARE BEING ADVERTISED OR ALLOTED BY MY GOVERNMENT. TV channels & news portals should immediately stop peddling this lie,” the chief minister said on X.
In a written statement, the CM’s office said as per the J&K Excise Policy for 2025-26m dated February 15, 305 vends (Wine Shops) were put to e-auction, and after the culmination of the bidding process, 271 vends got allotted to the successful H1 bidders.
The remaining 34 locations are being put up for re-auction through public notice issued on March 7.
The bidding process (to be conducted by the J&K Bank) will be completed on March 17 for these 34 vends, the statement said.
The government said the number of JKEL-2 vends remained unchanged, i.e. 305, since FY 2023-24. There are 291 such vends in Jammu and 14 in Kashmir, it said.
“Therefore, the news being circulated in Social Media regarding increase in the number of vends (Wine Shops) in Jammu & Kashmir is fake/baseless,” the statement added.
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