Kerala High Court Closes PIL Against BEVCO, Malabar Distilleries Following Withdrawal Of Liquor Naming Contest

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M disposed of the petition upon noting that the respondents have withdrawn the contest.

The plea alleged that the contest violates statutory prohibitions on liquor advertising and undermines the State's constitutional obligation to protect public health.

The impugned contest offered a cash prize of ₹10,000 for selected entries suggesting a name and logo for a new Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brandy to be manufactured by Malabar Distilleries Ltd., a state-owned enterprise. The announcement was widely published across national and regional newspapers, television channels, and social media platforms.

The Court had earlier issued an interim stay on the naming contest by flagging concern over use of public exchequer.

Today, the 4th respondent, Malabar Distilleries Ltd. submitted before the Court that pursuant to the interim stay the respondents has not proceeded further with the contest and the same has been withdrawn.

It was further submitted that the respondents have coined a name for the new product and have not used any of the names suggested by the participants of the contest for the product.

The Court thus disposed of the petition noting that the contest has been withdrawn.

“In view of the fact that the contest announced by the respondents has been withdrawn, nothing further has to be decided. Accordingly the petition stands dismissed.” the Court orally ordered.

Case Title: M.M. Sanjeev Kumar v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case

Case No: WP(PIL) 2/ 2026 and WP(PIL) 7/ 2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 156

Counsel for the petitioners: Radhakrishnan R, Christil Shaji, Anzar Basheer, K S Muralikrishnan Nair, Jayachandran R, Sailaj Ramachandran