Thiruvananthapuram: The court verdict that Keralites had looked forward to with bated breath was delivered on Thursday, with the Kerala High Court partially approving the decision of the state government to close liquor bars that were found to be lacking in basic facilities.
The High Court approved the state government’s move to shut down two and three-star hotels, and permitted four star hotels to have liquor bars. Earlier, the state government had allowed five star and heritage hotels to have liquor bars.
The verdict is seen as being based on a Supreme Court ruling in 2012 that there need to be no differentiation between four and five star hotels. Thursday’s verdict means the liquor bars in 33 four star hotels, 21 five star hotels and eight heritage properties can function.
Liquor bar owners in the state had moved the court, protesting the government’s decision to close down all bars in the state and bring about prohibition in a phased manner. In all, there were 83 petitions in the case, including those of strong prohibition supporters including the anti-liquor movement and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The government had earlier moved to shut all liquor bars in the state except those functioning in five star hotels. Bar owners moved the court stating that this was discriminatory practice and pointed out that liquor was being served in clubs and that liquor parlours were also allowed to ply their trade.
The new liquor policy of the state government that aimed at total prohibition also had a political backdrop. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, V.M. Sudheeran strongly pushed for prohibition while chief minister Oommen Chandy stood for a pragmatic call on the matter.
Later, when Sudheeran appeared to succeed in his push to close down 418 bars that did not have adequate facilities, Chandy played a bigger political card, demanding closure of all bars in the state. The matter was then taken to the courts by the bar owners.
