Bar licence renewal: Government denies rule violations, cites delay by centre

KOCHI: The Kerala Taxes Department has filed an affidavit before the High Court denying allegations of corruption in the government order issued in February in connection with the renewal of bar licences. The department said there had been no dilution of the existing licensing rules and that the order did not permit the issuance of new licences to hotels without star classification. The affidavit, filed by M.V. Pramod, Additional Secretary, Taxes Department, indirectly attributed the delay in the process to the Union Ministry of Tourism.

The affidavit was filed in response to public interest litigations, including one filed by the Kerala Prohibition Samithi, challenging the order issued during the final days of the previous LDF government's tenure. A bench headed by the Chief Justice will consider the matter today.
Under the Foreign Liquor Rules, a star-classification certificate issued by the Union Ministry of Tourism is mandatory for the renewal of a bar hotel licence. There are 905 hotels with star classification in the State, of which 150 to 200 have applied for reclassification.

The affidavit said there had been delays on the part of the Union Tourism Department in conducting inspections and completing the procedures related to reclassification. The February order was therefore issued as an interim arrangement to facilitate the renewal of licences, it said.
The petitions allege that the government order was in violation of the rules and that there was a conspiracy to facilitate corruption.