Kerala HC to hear plea over rising liquor stores

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the plea moved by senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran over the rise in number of liquor outlets in Kerala as suggested by the Excise Commissionerate and Beverages Corporation (BEVCO). Justice Devan Ramachandran listed the matter for hearing on November 25 and asked the HC Registry to file the revision petition moved by former MP Sudheeran.

On behalf of the Excise Commissionerate, senior government pleader S Kannan told the court that “strict directions” have been given to BEVCO and Consumerfed to provide facilities like parking area and walk-in option, so the customers are benefited. Another excerpt of the statement produced by excise commissionerate read that: “BEVCO’s request to set up 175 more outlets was also being considered by the government.”

Referring to the statement, the court then highlighted the issues on hygiene and pointed out that urinals must be provided for customers who queue outside liquor stores. The court observed that a few instances of men urinating outside the liquor stores have been reported and this is a menace for women and children. “I am not concerned about what steps the government would take. I am concerned about the results. I am more concerned about the women and children so they are not subjected to such annoyance,” asserted Justice Ramachandran.

Sudheeran’s plea which he filed through advocate Kaleeswaram Raj also points at the rise in the number of liquor stores. Meanwhile, BEVCO’s request over enhancing the liquor outlets in the state was mooted during the hearing on November 9 over a contempt plea which was filed claiming noncompliance of its 2017 judgement, directing the state government and BEVCO to ensure that no nuisance is caused to businesses and residents of an area in Thrissur.

In addition, Sudheeran has claimed in his petition that the intent of the HC in the 2017 verdict and the subsequent orders in the contempt plea was to ensure reduction of queues outside liquor outlets, and not to enhance their numbers. The Excise Commissionerate and BEVCO had told the court on November 9 that sanctioning more outlets could ease the pressure on the existing 306 licensed liquor shops. The two regulatory bodies had also said that while in Kerala there was only one liquor outlet for 1.12 lakh people, in the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the ratio was much less as there were thousands of shops which sell alcohol.