Kerala to review 400 bar licences issued under previous LDF regime
Excise Minister M Liju said the government will re-examine decisions made by the previous administration regarding beer and wine parlour licences.
The Kerala government has decided to re-examine the decision of the previous LDF administration to issue licences to more than 400 beer and wine parlours, according to Rediff.
State Excise Minister M Liju said on Tuesday that instructions have been issued to amend rules to close loopholes allegedly created by the former Left government.
Liju explained that the previous administration allowed deputy Excise commissioners to issue licences to hotels or establishments that achieved a rating of more than three stars.
The minister stated that if an establishment attained a rating above three stars, it was granted a licence, resulting in over 400 such approvals.
Liju said the current UDF government will not issue any new bar licences until a new liquor policy is formulated.
The minister also noted that the government has sought an explanation from Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao regarding two FL7 licences granted at Kochi international airport in June.
Liju said Rao acted on information from other officials while being unaware of the government's position, but added the commissioner should have informed the government before granting the licences.