'It Looked Like A Gambling Den': Kerala High Court Pulls Up BEVCO For Liquor Store Found In Pitiful State

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday reprimanded Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) after finding a liquor store in a miserable condition in the city. The matter will be taken up tomorrow for further hearing. 

Justice Devan Ramachandran while screen sharing a live photo of the liquor store he came across yesterday, remarked as such: 

"Just yesterday I personally saw a liquor shop that looked like a gambling den from old Bollywood movies- it was dark, dingy and barricaded. Look at the store, it's so dark you can't even see what's happening inside. This is happening as we speak."

The Single Bench observed so while hearing a contempt matter regarding the non-implementation of the Court's order to provide a dignified way to citizens to purchase liquor from BEVCO outlets.

The State has earlier informed the Court that out of the 306 outlets found in the State, around 96 were found to be short of basic facilities. The Bench while hearing the matter today enquired as to whether the shop that he saw was included among these 96 outlets since its condition was found to be deplorable. 

"If it was one of the 96 shops, then it should have been shut down. But it was open yesterday, so I'm assuming it is not. I am shocked by this, please verify if you have included this store among the ones you planned to shut down," the Court observed. 

"Just because they are poor, it doesn't mean you can treat them like cattle, or worse. This is not the way to sell an article. The collective dignity of the society has to be protected." 

Advocate Naveen T representing BEVCO in the matter has been asked to verify the same by tomorrow. 

Apart from this, the Bench also noted that as per Clause IV of the recent Government Order dated 4th August 2021, individuals are only allowed to enter establishments if they are vaccinated with at least one dose or possess a negative report.

The Court asked Government Pleader S. Kannan to explain why this clause has not been made applicable to liquor stores while emphasizing that in the Court's opinion, it will be binding on liquor outlets as well.  

The Bench noted that it was incongrogrous that there were no restrictions whatsoever in a place where the most number of people gather on a daily basis. Finding that these matters required urgent consideration, the case has been posted for tomorrow. 

"I want answers on this by tomorrow. I want specific answers to both these questions," the Court remarked.  

 Case Title: My Hindustan Paints v. S. Aanathakrishnan IPS