The High Court of Kerala will take decision on a clutch of petitions challenging the decision of state government to shut down over 700 bars in the state on Thursday.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced a 10-year plan that would bring prohibition to Kerala. He said in August that over 700 bars across the state will have to shut down.
He added that adding that only five-star hotel would be allowed to keep serving booze and even they will have go dry on Sundays.
After the announcement of state government bar owners had challenged that order in court, contending that the decision was taken in haste. They also said that it would impact the tourism and would also reduce a substantial amount of revenue.
The Supreme Court had stayed the government’s decision till September 30 while following the plea by association of bar owners.
Notify that state government had planned for state-run liquor stores, where men queue up for their daily fix, will be phased out at a rate of ten per cent a year for the next decade, leaving a big hole in the state coffers after alcohol taxes and fees generated more than $1 billion or Rs. 6,000 crore in the 2012-13 financial year.
Bureau Report
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