Keralam Govt Suspends Three Excise Officials for Violating Bar Licence Norms

The Keralam government has suspended three excise officials for granting bar licences to three hotels in violation of its directive prohibiting new licences until a fresh liquor policy is formulated, Excise Minister M Liju said on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, Liju said the government had decided not to issue licences to new bars until a comprehensive liquor policy was prepared, taking into account the state's social environment and tourism sector.

However, two hotels in Ernakulam district and one in Kottayam district were granted licences by the respective Deputy Excise Commissioners despite the directive, the minister said.

After the matter came to his notice, Liju sought an urgent report from the Excise Commissioner and subsequently suspended the officials responsible for issuing the licences.

He warned that the government would take strict action against officials found acting contrary to its policy.

Explaining the background, Liju said the then Oommen Chandy-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government restricted bar licences in 2014 to hotels classified as five-star or five-star deluxe establishments. Before the restriction, hotels with a two-star classification or higher were eligible for such licences.

The policy change resulted in a decline in the number of operational bars in the state from 730 to 29 by the end of the UDF government's tenure in 2016, he said.

In 2017, the subsequent Left Democratic Front (LDF) government amended the rules, allowing hotels classified as three-star and above to obtain bar licences.

According to Liju, 410 hotels received bar licences during the first LDF government's tenure, followed by another 78 during its second term, taking the total to 488.

The latest action follows the government's decision to keep fresh bar licences on hold pending the formulation of a new liquor policy.