States » SouthPosted at: Nov 4 2026 2:22PM


No bar licences without Govt's knowledge; Kerala to revise licensing system, says CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 4 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday asserted that no fresh bar licence would be granted in the state without the knowledge of the government and the Excise Minister, announcing that the existing system empowering excise officials to issue licences independently would be overhauled.
Addressing a press conference here, Satheesan said the provision allowing excise officials to grant bar licences without the knowledge of the minister concerned was introduced during the previous LDF government's tenure. Describing it as an improper administrative arrangement, he said the government would correct the system and ensure that such decisions were taken with its knowledge.
The new liquor policy of the government would be announced shortly, and bar licences would be granted only in accordance with the policy, he said.
The Chief Minister said allowing the Excise Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to independently issue bar licences without informing the government could have serious implications. The government would not accept any such decision taken without its knowledge, he added.
Meanwhile, the controversy over the grant of fresh bar licences has triggered a serious disagreement between Excise Minister M. Liju and Excise Commissioner S. Sambasiva Rao, with the minister reportedly seeking the commissioner's removal.
Liju alleged that the commissioner had taken important decisions without consulting the government or the minister, causing considerable embarrassment to the department. He said he would bring the matter to the Chief Minister's attention and would not allow such unilateral functioning to continue.
The dispute escalated after fresh bar licences were granted at Nedumbassery airport. The minister alleged that the commissioner had ignored instructions not to take decisions on applications until the new liquor policy was announced.
Liju said the government was seeking legal advice on cancelling the licences granted in the controversial circumstances and that appropriate legal proceedings would be initiated. Although the commissioner had statutory powers to issue FL-7 licences, exercising them without informing the government was unacceptable, particularly when the decisions had policy implications, he said.
Blaming the previous LDF government for the provisions that enabled the present situation, Liju alleged that loopholes in the licensing system had earlier facilitated the conversion of 428 wine parlours into bars.
He also criticised the decisions taken during the tenure of former Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh, alleging that the system introduced by the previous government had facilitated the expansion of liquor outlets in the state.
The minister also raised questions over possible financial transactions behind the hurried grant of licences to beer and wine parlours. He expressed suspicion over the circumstances in which excise officials had expedited the approvals and the reports submitted in connection with the role of subordinate officials.
Liju maintained that no decision relating to bar licences should henceforth be taken in the department without the knowledge of the minister and the government.
UNI DS
Tags: #No bar licences without Govt's knowledge; Kerala to revise licensing system# says CM
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