The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgment on appeals filed by hoteliers from Kerala against the state government’s decision to close down all bars except those in five-star hotels.
They argued that the government’s policy reeks of discrimination and arbitrariness.
A bench headed by justice Vikramajit Sen after hearing a batch of petitions filed by Association of Bar Owners and many of the state’s four-star private hotels reserved its order. It also asked the parties to submit written submissions by August 31.
Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, in his personal capacity appeared on behalf of the four-star bars and hotels, and senior counsel Harsh Salve argued that the state policy was discriminatory and in violation of the constitutionally enshrined principle of equality.
Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of the Kerala government, had argued that the ban is not in conflict with any fundamental right. “No person has a fundamental right to sell liquor, the license to sell liquor is a privilege granted by the State,” he said.