Kerala's liquor policy liberalised as Governor signs ordinance

Kerala government has liberalised its liquor policy by taking away the powers of local bodies to regulate liquor outlets Kerala Governor signed an ordinance making necessary amendments to in the Municipality Act and Panchayat Raj Act The LDF government decided to make such a move to cover the losses incurred due to the closing of liquor outlets The Opposition and several religious organisations, including Catholic Bishops Council, had strongly objected to the move

Kerala Governor Justice P Sathasivam has signed an ordinance which liberalises the liquor policy in the state and scraps the rule that requires beer parlours and retail shops to secure NOCs from panchayats to establish outlets in the area.

Governor Sathasivam signed the ordinance on Friday, making necessary amendments in this regard to the Kerala Municipality Act and Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, much to the dismay of the Congress-led Opposition and religious outfits.

The LDF government decided to make such a move to cover the losses incurred due to the closing of retail liquor outlets and beer parlours along national highways following a recent Supreme Court order.

Many panchayats had refused NOC to liquor outlets while the government was trying to relocate the shops away from highways to comply with the SC order. The new ordinance takes away the powers of local bodies to regulate setting up of liquor outlets.

The Opposition and several Christian organisations, including Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, had strongly objected to the move by the CPM-led government to sign the ordinance and amend the rule brought in by the previous UDF government.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council had urged the Governor not to sign the ordinance. The council along with poet and activist Sugathakumari were scheduled meet the Governor on Friday to request him not sign the ordinance.

Some protests erupted over the move with a delegation of religious leaders and anti-liquor activists meeting Sathasivam and expressing their opposition to the ordinance.