Kerala liquor ban: Supreme Court turns down bars’ plea for more time
27 Sept 2014 8:32 AM IST
Sept. 30 deadline; SC on Navaratri recess
The bar owners also sought a directive to grant time to file an appeal in the apex court if the High Court rejects their pleas. A division bench headed by Anil R. Dave refused to accept the contentions raised by the bar owners. (Photo: PTI)
Kochi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to extend the status quo issued on the functioning of bar hotels in the state. The apex court had earlier permitted the 312 bars to function till September 30. The bar owners moved the court seeking to extend the order for four more weeks.
The bar owners also sought a directive to grant time to file an appeal in the apex court if the High Court rejects their pleas. A division bench headed by Anil R. Dave refused to accept the contentions raised by the bar owners.
The bench, however, asked the state not to close down the bars till the High Court passes an order. Meanwhile, senior counsel Kapil Sibal appearing for the state submitted that the High Court would pronounce the judgment on September 30.
If the High Court upholds the state’s liquor policy by rejecting the petitions filed by the bar owners, the bars will have to be closed down immediately. According to legal experts, the bar owners will have to undergo the normal process and challenge the single bench order at the division bench seeking an interim stay on the single bench order.
Since the apex court is going on Navaratri vacation and opens only on November 8, the bar owners will have no time to challenge the High Court order before the apex court.
Giving credence to the arguments of the bar owners, the Kerala State Beverages Corporation on Friday submitted the sales figures of liquor sold from its outlets as well as to the bar hotels during April to August revealing an increase of Rs 500 crore business.
The sales figures were submitted before Justice K. Surendra Mohan who had reserved judgment in the bar licence cancellation cases.
As per the statistics available with Bevco, the gross sales of liquor had increased to Rs 3,237 crore during April to August, 2014 compared to the gross sale of Rs 2,720 crore during the period from April to August, 2013-2014.The quantity of total sale of IMF and beer during 2013-14 was 73 lakh cases of IMF and 21.52 lakh cases of beer compared to 67.30 lakh cases of IMF and 20.60 lakh cases of beer.
The total sale of IMF and beer to the bar licensees during April-August 2014-15 was 12.70 lakh cases and 13.68 lakh cases respectively while the cases sold during the same period of 2013-14 was 7.37 and 7.57 lakh respectively. Bevco sold IMFL and beer worth Rs 403.85 crore and '87.75 crore respectively compared to Rs 221.50 crore and Rs 47.40 crore earlier.
Chittilappilly slams liquor ban
Noted industrialist Kochouseph Chittilappilly has said that the liquor policy of the state government was not suitable for the state. Addressing a panel discussion organised by the Kerala Management Association here, he also criticised the stand taken by the Church on the issue. He personally knew many priests who drank regularly, he said.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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