The Urban Development Department (UDD), Government of Sikkim, has announced strict measures to curb the subletting of trade licences, aiming to protect business opportunities for Sikkimese residents. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Conference Hall of Gangtok Smart City Development Ltd. (GSCDL), Kisan Bazar, Lall Market.
The press conference was presided over by Minister for Urban Development and Food & Civil Supplies Department, Bhoj Raj Rai, who was joined by Commissioner-cum-Secretary Jitendra Singh Raje, PCA-cum-Secretary Yogeeta Rai, Principal Chief Engineer Shailendra Sharma, and Additional Secretary Hemant Rai.
Minister Rai stated that licence holders will no longer be allowed to sublet their licences to non-Sikkimese individuals. This decision aligns with Notification No. GOS/UDHD/1(257)/9, dated 14 August 2014, which allows only the original licence holder and immediate family members to operate businesses under the issued trade licence.
The Minister informed that 9,449 trade licences and 190 hawker licences have been issued to date, and the government plans to gradually convert all hawker licences into trade licences. He also addressed concerns over government-allotted shops being illegally sublet to third parties and warned that action will be taken against those violating regulations.
Labour verification will be conducted to ensure compliance with existing rules, and all labour cards will be checked as part of the verification process. Business owners and officials issuing licences have been directed to follow the terms and conditions strictly. Physical site inspections will now be mandatory before new licences are issued.
Minister Rai urged non-Sikkimese individuals residing in the state to complete all legal formalities and warned that individuals holding unauthorised trade licences should surrender them voluntarily. Public announcements (miking) will be carried out to raise awareness about the new regulations.
In his concluding remarks, the Minister emphasized that strict enforcement of these measures is necessary to ensure that business opportunities remain accessible to Sikkimese residents and that government regulations are upheld.
