Kochi: The Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation on Friday filed a petition before Kerala High Court against the Kizhakambalam grama panchayat's order directing it to close down its outlet.
Justice V. Chithambaresh adjourned the hearing of the case to Monday. The panchayat on March 31 had issued an order rejecting the trade licence. Bevco submitted that the order was illegal. The petition stated that the shop was running in a rented building. When the relationship with the landlord got strained, the landlord with the help of the panchayat attempted to evict the corporation from the premises.
Bevco submitted that they are running the outlet by virtue of a government order issued by the Excise department. The shop was started in 2002 and the same is running with the licence. Petitioners argued that the panchayat had colluded with the landlord to act against them. Twenty20 had campaigned against the Bevco outlet.
Twenty20, a Kitex-sponsored initiative, is running the Kizhakkambalam grama panchayat. After they won the elections they made a declaration that the panchayat will go liquor free. The beverages outlet is situated in a residential area. The building itself is in a dilapidated condition. Earlier, the Munsiff Court, Perumbavoor, had ordered the corporation to close down the outlet.
