Thiruvananthapuram: Former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran has criticised the Supreme Court verdict relaxing its earlier rule on allowing wayside bars in panchayats which can be considered as towns. The states concerned can take a call on setting up the bars, according to the verdict delivered on Friday. “The court itself is sabotaging its earlier judgment on the closure of wayside bars,” he said and added that the government was working for the liquor lobby rather than the welfare of the people.
The SC verdict came on petition moved by Mr Sudheeran in April last year alleging that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the then chief secretary Nalini Netto and excise and NH officials had sabotaged the court order banning the sale of liquor at outlets abutting national and state highways. The government had brought down the status of NH roads with vested interest, he claimed. Following the latest court order, 149 beer/wine parlours and three-star bars, which were closed in Kerala, will be reopened. Mr Sudheeran lamented that the apex court had amended its earlier judgment disregarding the people’s protests.
“Family values and the social milieu in the state are deteriorating and the LDF government is leading Kerala to social disaster with the connivance of the liquor lobby. It will ensure the liquor flow in the state on the strength of the court order,” he said. He alleged that the state government had joined hands with the liquor lobby damaging the welfare of the people. “The state is heading towards anarchy,” he warned. Leading lawyer Kaaleswaram Raj had appeared for Mr Sudheeran in the Supreme Court.
