It is, no doubt , a matter of great relief for the UDF government in Kerala that the Division Bench of the High Court has upheld the new liquor policy of the Government. However, it remains to be seen whether the matters will end here as the Bar Owners Association has declared that they would be approaching Supreme court in appeal.
While allowing the appeal by the State Government , the Division Bench has made certain pertinent observations, like drinking liquor is not the birthright of a person, liquor need not be necessary for promoting tourism etc. While these observations are welcome, it remains to be seen how the judge(s) in supreme court is going to view the entire issue. One may say that , of late, the judgments by the courts are becoming very subjective according to the personal view of the judges rather than viewing the issue through the law of the land and hence the doubt.
Even when Mr Sudheeran and company can boast of gaining a personal triumph in the matter, it only remains to be seen how the Government is going to implement the new policy and what are the rehabilitation measures going to be adopted in respect of the workers who lose their jobs. While almost all political parties talk about the rehabilitation of the workers losing their jobs, I wonder why nobody is talking about the rehabilitation of the Bar Owners who have spent crores of rupees in establishing the upto 4 star hotels and getting the bar licenses as per the existing policy of the government. (The three star and four star hotels are established only with the hope of minting money from the sale of liquor and not by the occupancy of the rooms and for getting the bar licenses they spend huge money also). Do they not deserve to be rehabilitated, if the workers who lose the jobs are rehabilitated, both because of the new policy of the Government?
The revised policy talks about closing down 10% of the Beverages Corporation outlets every year. The present government has only less than a year of life now and during this period they may close down 20% of the outlets. In the next election if LDF is coming to power (the chances for which are bleak as of now), what is the guarantee that they will not reverse the decision? Then what will happen to the expected total prohibition in the State? It is pertinent to note that no LDF leader has commented on this point so far.
And what will be the government's policy about the liquor being served at many posh clubs in the State and the liquor available from Defense Canteens? Will the clubs be classified under the five star category and be permitted to serve liquor? Will the Defense canteens established in the State also be asj\ked to close the shops in a phased manner in tune with the policy, one would like to know
While allowing the appeal by the State Government , the Division Bench has made certain pertinent observations, like drinking liquor is not the birthright of a person, liquor need not be necessary for promoting tourism etc. While these observations are welcome, it remains to be seen how the judge(s) in supreme court is going to view the entire issue. One may say that , of late, the judgments by the courts are becoming very subjective according to the personal view of the judges rather than viewing the issue through the law of the land and hence the doubt.
Even when Mr Sudheeran and company can boast of gaining a personal triumph in the matter, it only remains to be seen how the Government is going to implement the new policy and what are the rehabilitation measures going to be adopted in respect of the workers who lose their jobs. While almost all political parties talk about the rehabilitation of the workers losing their jobs, I wonder why nobody is talking about the rehabilitation of the Bar Owners who have spent crores of rupees in establishing the upto 4 star hotels and getting the bar licenses as per the existing policy of the government. (The three star and four star hotels are established only with the hope of minting money from the sale of liquor and not by the occupancy of the rooms and for getting the bar licenses they spend huge money also). Do they not deserve to be rehabilitated, if the workers who lose the jobs are rehabilitated, both because of the new policy of the Government?
The revised policy talks about closing down 10% of the Beverages Corporation outlets every year. The present government has only less than a year of life now and during this period they may close down 20% of the outlets. In the next election if LDF is coming to power (the chances for which are bleak as of now), what is the guarantee that they will not reverse the decision? Then what will happen to the expected total prohibition in the State? It is pertinent to note that no LDF leader has commented on this point so far.
And what will be the government's policy about the liquor being served at many posh clubs in the State and the liquor available from Defense Canteens? Will the clubs be classified under the five star category and be permitted to serve liquor? Will the Defense canteens established in the State also be asj\ked to close the shops in a phased manner in tune with the policy, one would like to know
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