Kochi, September 10: As the Kerala government is gearing up to enforce the closure of all the remaining liquor bars, excepting those attached to five-star hotels, from Thursday midnight, the Supreme Court is expected to give its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the closure on Thursday.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday postponed to Thursday its verdict on the appeal against a Kerala High Court decision that refused the bar owners’ appeal for a stay on the government order to close the bars by September 12.
The Excise Department and the police are gearing up their machinery to get the 300-odd remaining bars locked down by the midnight of Thursday-Friday. However, an Excise official said that though the department was all set for the task, it would get into the action mode only after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on the bar owners’ plea on Thursday.
The bar owners, represented by a team of top lawyers, in their appeal contends that the order to close the bars is illegal and against the spirit of the Constitution. They have also sought permission to let the bars function until the Kerala High Court gives its final verdict challenging the government order.