THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has decided not to renew the bar licence of 10 hotels despite a High Court directive in this regard. Concerned over the Government's stand, the hotel owners are again taking up the matter with the court.
The High Court on November 7 had directed the Government to take a decision on renewing the licence of 10 hotels, which included nine three-star hotels and one four-star hotel, within two weeks.
Excise Commissioner Anil Xavior said since the present excise policy did not allow bar licence to three and four star hotels, the Government could not issue licence to the 10 hotels.
The Government is likely to file an appeal against the High Court directive soon.
The bar hotels have already filed a petition against the Government's inaction. "We have already filed a petition against the Government's inaction," said Thyagaraj, manager at Hotel Orchid in Kochi which is among the 10 hotels.
The other hotels are Sky Hotel, Tiruvalla, Green Palace,Pambbakkuda, K.K. Builders, Peravoor, Kallada Hotel, Mannuthy, Landmark, Kallor, Sagara Resort, Kovalam, Golden Bar, Kodakara, Mercy Business Centre Ernakulam, and Presidency, Ernakulam, the only one which enjoys four-star status among the ten.
Sources said since the court directive said the Government could take a decision on issuing bar licence to 10 bars subject to the court orders in the case pertaining to the liquor policy, the Government's inaction could be justified.
