Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram (SP)

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 24: Kerala high court (HC), on Friday June 23, delivered a verdict saying that procurement of licences are not necessary for supplying liquor at private functions being organized at homes. The court pronounced this judgement after hearing a petition filed in this respect by a person named Alex V Chacko.

Chacko had filed the said case relating to harassment he suffered at the hands of police and staff of excise department when he had planned to supply liquor to guests during the baptism procedure organized at his home for his daughter as is customary in Christianity.

He said that the excise department compelled him to remit Rs 50,000 for issuing liquor licence. He asserted that he had procured liquor within the quantities prescribed in excise act for being supplied to guests at the said function.

As per the excise act and rules in Kerala, a person can possess three litres of Indian made foreign liquor. Chacko who himself argued the case in the court, insisted that his house is located in a private land and that licence from excise department for supplying liquor to guests is not applicable in his case. He said that the liquor was provided to guests alongside food, and that the individual residences of people do not fall under the definition of public places as defined in section 15 (C) of Kerala Excise Act.

The bench of the high court, upholding his arguments, came to the conclusion that liquor licences are not needed for usage at homes and in functions. At the same time, it warned that for being eligible for concession, the quantum of liquor acquired should be within the limit of three litres prescribed by law.