SC to hear Kerala bar owners' plea on Thursday

In a reprieve to bar owners in Kerala, the Supreme Court Wednesday told the state government not to enforce its order prohibiting functioning of non-five-star hotel bars till Thursday when the court will take up for hearing a batch of petitions challenging the ban order.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Anil R. Dave asked the state government to keep its hands off as it would hear the matter Thursday when it was mentioned by a battery of senior lawyers representing different petitioners.

The Kerala government has passed an order banning the sale of liquor at bars and hotels below the five-star category and the ban order comes into force Sep 11.