IANS
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DECEMBER 29
Tipplers in Kerala were left wringing their hands in despair as the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the state’s policy to restrict service and consumption of liquor to only bars in five star hotels. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said they will now be able to “tackle the evils of alcoholism” and dared the Left opposition to tinker with the policy in case they come to power.
An apex court bench of Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh dismissed the petitions challenging the liquor policy upholding the Kerala High Court judgment in the matter.
Under the policy, sale and consumption of liquor at bars in hotels below five star is prohibited.
The Kerala government was quick to hail the verdict.
“What all did they (Left) say when this policy was first unveiled. They said this was made without any logic and one without any substance. They said this was framed to help some people,” Chandy said.
“The liquor policy of ours was not evolved in a day, instead it was one that took a proper shape and moved forward right from the days when K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony and later when I headed the government (2004) and it reached this stage... when we decided to eradicate the social evil with our new policy,” Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
“We feel this policy is one of the most prominent ones because through this, we will be able to tackle the evils of alcoholism.
