No bar licences without Govt knowledge; new liquor policy soon: Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Bar licences will not be issued in the state without the knowledge of the Excise Minister or the Government, Chief Minister V D Satheesan has stated. Officials will no longer be permitted to directly grant bar licences.

The Chief Minister noted that the provision allowing officials to issue bar licences independently without the Minister's knowledge was introduced during the tenure of the previous administration.

Stating that this flawed practice will be overhauled, he warned that granting power to the Excise Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to issue licences at their own discretion poses a great danger to the state. He added that the Government's new liquor policy will be announced shortly, and bar licences will strictly be granted in accordance with it.

“The previous government created a system where officials could grant bar licences without even the minister being aware, and that practice is still continuing,” the Chief Minister said. “We will change this. No bar will be licensed without the Government's knowledge, and it must not happen. The Government must be kept informed. The Government's new liquor policy will be unveiled soon, and bars must only be sanctioned in line with it,” he said.

Emphasising the need for regulatory oversight, he added, “It was under the previous government that officials were given the authority to issue bar licences. If that continues, what will be the state of affairs here? Shouldn't we have control over this?

"A situation where a Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner can grant a bar licence without even the Minister knowing arose under the previous administration. We will change this. Everything must be done with the Government's full knowledge.”