Vizhinjam Protests Not Violent: Kerala High Court Stays Collector's Order For Closure Of Liquor Shops

The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed the operation of an order issued by the Thiruvananthapuram district collector on August 20, directing closure of liquor shops in Vizhinjam for two days, taking into account the possibility of conflict in the context of the protests in the area.

The stay is to operate till August 24, the next date of hearing.

The impugned order under Section 54 of the Abkari Act, 1977 was issued on the basis of a report by the Inspector, in light of the indefinite strike conducted under the leadership of Archdiocese of Latin Catholics, Thiruvananthapuram against the construction of International Port at Vizhinjam.

Justice Amit Rawal while staying the aforementioned order, noted that although the protests had been continuing since long, it was not at a violent stage.

The Judge further noted that there were no attenuating circumstances which had come about for ordering such ban on liquor shops on the 21st and 22nd of August 2022. He particularly noted that there were "no untoward incident which had taken place on 21.8.2022 which could impel the management to close the liquor shop, which was not of that propensity and intensity of ordering the closure of the liquor shops". 

The petitioner in this case runs the Hotel Port Palace and was aggrieved by the aforementioned order. His counsel, Advocate Nireesh Mathew submitted that the report of the Inspector which formed he basis of the closure, was not been supplied to the petitioner. 

The respondents were represented by the Standing Counsel, Jimmy George. 

Case Title: Hotel Port Palace v. State of Kerala & Ors. 

Click Here To Read/Download The Order