New Delhi:
The owners of Kerala's hotels and bars have moved Supreme Court, challenging the state government's decision to close around 700 bars. The decision will be effective from September 12.
The petition says the decision is arbitrary and the policy is discriminatory to certain sections of liquor industry. Also, the government did not give a proper hearing to the bar owners.
The UDF government has decided to go for a zero liquor policy in the state. Under the first phase of implementation, all pubs and bars that are not attached to five star hotels are to be closed down.
The decision has affected the 300-odd working bars in the state. Those are the ones that survived an earlier purge. On August 21, the government had refused to renew the licences of 418 bars - which were said to be sub-standard.
The government maintains the decision has found support among a huge section of people. For the people who work in bars and pubs, the government has planned a rehabilitation package.
But the decision is also expected to hit the tourism industry hard. There are only 15 five-star hotels in "God's own country". The tourist season has already started.