THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was on reportedly the basis of the advice by the Advocate-General the government had allowed liquor shops to open along the Kannur-Kuttipuram stretch.
Following the High Court’s adverse remarks on Tuesday, the state government had shut down 13 beer and wine parlours, nine toddy shops and three outlets of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) on this stretch. But the fact was that they were allowed to open in May on the strength of the AG’s advice.
Following two separate High Court orders in May, which themselves were based on a National Highways Authority of India notification denotifying certain NH stretches, the government had moved to open liquor shops to open on the Kannur-Vengalam-Kuttipuram and Cherthala-Thiruvananthapuram stretches. On the strength of the HC order, bar owners in the Kannur-Kuttipuram stretch had approached the Excise Department for licence.
Of the beer and wine parlours, four were in Kozhikode district, six in Kannur and three in Malappuram. Five of the toddy shops were in Kozhikode district and four in Kannur. Of the three Bevco outlets, one fell in Kozhikode district and two in Kannur.
LDF meet today
The LDF meeting on Thursday will discuss and formulate the government’s liquor policy.