Don't try to reopen bars along highways: HC warns 'over-smart' Kerala govt

In a massive setback to the Pinarayi Vijayan government, the Kerala High Court has slammed the LDF's decision to reopen retail liquor outlets and beer parlours along national highways, warning the government should have been sought clarification if they didn't know how to interpret the court's directive.

The HC on Tuesday ordered that the state government should not make any efforts to open the liquor shops along highways, and warned the court knows what to do if the government tries to "act smart".

Also read: 'If Kerala's beverage outlets are shut, spurious liquor will spurt'

The HC also stated the Kerala government tried to mislead the court over the issue and fired the gun from the court's shoulder to reopen the bars. The liquor outlets and beer parlours on national highways should not be opened till further orders, it ordered.

The order came after it heard a petition by a Congress activist, claiming that the state government was trying to mislead the court over the terminology over the observation it made on national highways last week.

Also read: Cherthala-TVM stretch is national highway: Sudhakaran

The news comes just hours after PWD minister G Sudhakaran said that the confusion was created by the Supreme Court directive on national highways and that the SC should review its decision.

• Kerala High Court
• liquor policy
• national highways