Kerala to investigate rushed issuance of bar licences
Excise Minister M. Liju said the government will probe if officials used system loopholes to grant liquor licences quickly.
Kerala Excise Minister M. Liju said on Monday that an investigation will be conducted to determine if bar licences were issued with unwanted hastiness. According to reports by The Hindu and ThePrint, the minister intends to examine whether officials used existing loopholes to grant licences without informing the Excise Commissioner.
The minister noted that under rules established by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) administration, licences could be issued within 24 hours. He alleged that these rules allowed beer and wine parlours to be upgraded to bars based on star classification. Liju stated that the current government requires a social impact study before any licence is granted.
The move follows the recent suspension of three excise officials. The officers were suspended for issuing licences to hotels in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, which violated the government's stance of not issuing licences until a new liquor policy is ready.
Liju mentioned that the High Court has been informed of the government's position regarding star classifications and social impact studies. The court has provided until November 30 for a decision on pending bar licence applications.
The minister added that the government will investigate complaints regarding the intervention of retired excise officials in the licensing process. He said the department may amend the law to close regulatory loopholes and ensure decisions are made carefully due to their social impact.