Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam Excise Minister M Liju has said that the UDF government would conduct a detailed examination of 488 bar licences granted during the previous LDF government’s tenure and take action if any irregularities are detected.
He was responding to allegations raised by CPI leader and former Excise Minister M B Rajesh over action taken against Excise officials for issuing licences to bars in accordance with the previous LDF government’s liquor policy. In 2014, the then UDF government led by Oommen Chandy had decided to restrict bar licences to five-star classified hotels, resulting in more than 700 hotels losing their licences and subsequently operating as beer and wine parlours, he said. Under the 2017 amendment, 410 hotels were granted bar licences during the first LDF government and another 78 during its second term, taking the total to 488, Liju said. Liju said the government would withdraw the authority given to Deputy Excise Commissioners to grant new FL 3 bar licences under the provision of renewal. On the issue of FL 7 licences for airport transit lounges, the minister said the category was introduced during the Oommen Chandy government in July 2011, and the authority to issue such licences was vested with the Excise Commissioner at that time. Another application for an FL 7 licence was subsequently referred to the government, following which the Additional Chief Secretary, on August 4, directed that no decision be taken until the UDF government’s liquor policy was announced, he said.
He also said an Excise Deputy Commissioner who took a decision contrary to government policy was removed from the post and two other Deputy Commissioners were suspended.
