The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking to review its verdict directing the State government to renew the bar licences of four-star and heritage hotels.
Justice K. Surendran Mohan passed the order while dismissing a review petition filed by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) Madhya Virudha Samithi.
The petitioner sought to review the judgment on the ground that on the same day when the directive to renew four-star and heritage hotel bars came, a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan had observed that it was for the government to take a policy decision on liquor-related matters.
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The Bench’s verdict came after the directive to renew the bar licence was passed.
Not challenged The Judge observed that the Abkari policy 2014 or the consequential amendments to the liquor policy had not been challenged in the petition. Even if the Bench’s verdict had been brought to his notice, the judgment would not have been different.
The public interest petition, that came up before the Division Bench, had sought a direction to the State government to introduce rationing in supply of liquor, based on BPL/APL card.
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The petition also sought a direction to the State government not to issue fresh licence for starting wine shops, toddy shops and beer parlours.
According to the petitioner, the State government was bound to take appropriate steps to curb the drinking habit.
That apart, he submitted that the people who had BPL cards should be given permit cards fixing the quantity of liquor to be brought from liquor shops.
The State government submitted that it was aiming complete prohibition of liquor in 10 years.
Besides, it was taking earnest efforts to reduce liquor consumption through awareness programmes. Closing the petition, the Bench had observed that it could not interfere in the case.