Kerala HC asks govt to submit excise policy for perusal

The Kerala High Court today directed the government to produce its excise policy for a perusal of the case relating to government's decision not to renew the licenses of 418 bar hotels.
A division bench, comprising Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice P B Suresh Kumar, issued a direction in this regard.
The court also directed the Taxes Secretary and the Excise Commissioner to ensure that an appropriate inspection is conducted in all 418 bar hotels, whose license had not been renewed, and file report before it.
The bench held the instruction is to examine whether the closed establishments are non-standard bar hotels. Consideration of this cannot be kept pending for too long, it said.

The direction was issued while considering five appeals by Bar owners against the government decision not to renew the licenses.