HC declines to stay govt decision on bar licence

Kerala High Court today declined to stay the state government decision not to renew the licenses of 418 bars in different parts of the state.
The order was issued by Justice V Chidambaresh while considering a batch of over 50 petitions filed by the bar owners challenging the government decision.
The court held that it cannot interfere with the decision while the government is all set to declare its policy on Abkari (excise) matters during the first week of May.
The Government informed the court that the issue was under consideration and it was looking into the report of Justice N Ramachandran Commission which went into the matter.

On Apr 22, Justice C T Ravikumar, before whom the petitions were posted, recused from hearing the cases, shortly before pronouncing the judgement after a counsel, K Thavamony, visited his house the previous day and attempted to speak about the issue touching the case.
Justice Ravikumar had heard the petitions relating to renewal of bar licenses continuously till Apr 11, the last working day after which the court closed for summer vacation.

Taking everyone by surpise, Justice Ravikumar had on April 22 said in his order that he was avoiding hearing the case. "Common judgement in the case is yet to be signed," the judge said while recalling the judgement.

The state government had put on hold renewal of the licenses of 418 bars as they were found to be substandard and yet to upgrade their facilties.
The Justice Ramachandran Commission, which looked into the Abkari Policy of the state, had suggested that the government should notify that licenses of bar hotels that do not come under the three-star or four star category would not be renewed after the expiry of existing licenses.