The Kerala government will submit a fresh additional affidavit to the Kerala High Court regarding the issuance of bar licences to hotels that have pending star classification applications with the Union Ministry of Tourism, Excise Minister M. Liju said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters in Kollam, the Minister explained that the decision follows the receipt of new information from the Union government concerning the status of these star classification applications.
Under the state's existing policy, bar licences are typically issued to hotels that hold classifications ranging from three to five stars. However, the previous administration had opted to consider licence applications from hotels whose classification requests were still under review by the Union Tourism Ministry. This policy shift led to a legal challenge currently being heard by the High Court.
Minister Liju stated that upon assuming office, the current government identified a lack of clear data regarding which applications had been accepted or rejected by the Centre. After the State Excise and Taxes departments sought clarity, the Union Ministry of Tourism responded with details on the status of pending and rejected applications, subsequently filing its own fresh affidavit in the case. Excise department sources later indicated that the Union Ministry has informed the state that the star classification applications for 32 hotels in Kerala have been rejected.
The Minister held discussions with officials from the Excise and Taxes departments and the State Attorney to review these developments. He emphasized that the government aims to handle the issue transparently while adhering to established legal frameworks. The contents of the new affidavit will remain undisclosed until it is formally submitted to the court.
Key facts
- Excise Minister M. Liju confirmed the state will file an additional affidavit in the Kerala High Court.
- The matter involves bar licences for hotels awaiting star classification from the Union Tourism Ministry.
- Department sources reported that the Union Ministry has rejected 32 hotel applications in the state.
- The current government reviewed the policy after finding insufficient data on application statuses from the previous administration.
Why it matters
The filing of the additional affidavit is intended to address legal challenges against the previous government’s decision to grant bar licences to hotels with pending star classification statuses. By providing updated information from the Union Tourism Ministry to the High Court, the state government aims to align its licensing process with the latest data and existing legal regulations.
Source: The Hindu, Hindustan Times
Comments