Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has termed the verdict of the High Court of Kerala on the closure of two and three star bar hotels in the State as a recognition of the new liquor policy of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.
Reacting to the judgment of the single bench of Justice Surendra Mohan, the Chief Minister told journalists in Kozhikode on Thursday that “ it was incorrect to observe that the verdict was only a partial ratification of the State government’s liquor policy.”
The High Court has ordered the closure of all two and three star bar hotels in the State. Liquor will be served only in eight heritage hotels, 33 bars in four-star category and 21 five-star hotels from now.
Replying to a query, Mr. Chandy said that the verdict allowing bar hotels in four-star category to function could not be considered as a partial appreciation of the government’s policy.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan told media persons in Kannur that the new liquor policy would render at least 60,000 people jobless.
“What the State needs is abstinence from liquor and not total prohibition. Prohibition itself will not work in the State. It is a wrong policy of the present UDF government,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.
The Congress-led UDF Government came out with its new liquor policy permitting only five star hotels to function from September. As many as 418 bars had also remained closed since April 1, 2014 as the
government refused to renew their licences.
In August, the government decided to close down over 730 bars in the State. However the bar owners approached the Supreme Court which ordered a status quo till September 30. As the High Court could not
meet the deadline, 312 bars got an extended life.
Meanwhile the government went ahead with its liquor policy from October 2 by declaring Sundays as dry days and closing down 39 retail outlets.
This was to achieve total prohibition within 10 years.
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