Kerala High Court orders closure of all liquor bars except those in fivestars

KOCHI: In a landmark judgment, a division bench of the Kerala High Court has ordered the closure of all liquor bars in the state except those in fivestars. The court order will see shutting down of nearly 300 bars from Tuesday night as per the state’s liquor policy but excise minister K Babu said later that they would be given beer and wine parlour licence if they apply for the same.

The bar owners said that they would appeal in the Supreme Court on Wednesday against the judgement. Only about 24 five star liquor bars will be allowed to function in the state. The order by Justices KT Sankaran and Mathew P Thomas will lead to the closure of 4-star bars and heritage bars too as the new order cancelled a singlebench order that allowed 4 -tar bars to function in the state.

The state has the right to formulate policies with regard to all matters pertaining to liquor, the court said and added it was not interfering with this right. It dismissed the argument that bars should remain open to encourage tourism. It also rejected the argument that the closure of bars will lead to unemployment.

The consumption of liquor and its sale are also not a Fundamental Right, the court observed. The government has the right to decide the matters with regard to its sale.