Kerala will investigate whether excise officials rushed the grant of bar licences. The scrutiny could lead to tighter rules and legal amendments.Stock photo used for illustrationThiruvananthapuram,Nov 2, 2026 12:34 ISTKerala Excise Minister M Liju on Monday said the government will investigate whether officials showed “unwanted haste” in granting liquor licences to bars, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Liju said the government’s position was that licences should not be issued without a social impact study.
He added that all loopholes in the existing rules would be closed and the law amended if necessary.Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the minister said rules framed by the previous LDF government allowed a bar to receive a licence within 24 hours even if it had remained closed for several years. He alleged that this was being done through loopholes created by the previous government.“It will be investigated why hasty decisions were taken, and even the Excise Commissioner was not informed in connection with the grant of licences.
Everything will be investigated, and all loopholes will be closed,” Liju said, according to PTI. The minister said several applications for bar licences were pending before the government.
The Kerala High Court had been informed that a hotel could not be granted a licence merely on the basis of its star classification, as a social impact study was also required.“The High Court accepted the government stand and gave it time till November 30 to take a decision on the pending applications for bar licences,” he said. Liju said the recent suspension of three excise officials over the grant of bar licences was a precursor to an investigation into whether there had been any unnecessary haste.
The officials were suspended for granting licences to three hotels in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, despite the government’s position that no licences would be issued until a new liquor policy was formulated.The minister said a detailed meeting would be called to examine several complaints related to the grant of bar licences. “We will not allow anyone to sabotage the policy of the government,” he said.He also said complaints that retired excise officials were intervening in the issuance of licences would be investigated. “Decisions by this department make a considerable impact on society, and therefore, its actions have to be taken carefully,” the minister said.The government will examine the licensing decisions, investigate the role of serving and retired officials, and consider legal changes while deciding the pending applications after social impact studies.- Ends