Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100754490400.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Cancellation of club licence recommended

Special Correspondent

Kozhikode: District Collector A. Jaythilak has recommended cancellation of the liquor licence issued to Exclusive Club, frequented by businessmen and city’s socialites, after its members were found drinking alcohol on its premises on Gandhi Jayanti, a dry day.

It was found during a raid led by the Assistant Collector and the Assistant Commissioner (Excise) that the club’s authorities had allegedly ensured supply of liquor on October 2 to their members within the compound from their stock by fraudulently billing it for September 30,

The Collector said on Monday that his recommendation would go to Commissioner, Excise, Romanus Horo for necessary action

During the raid, a few members of the club were apprehended for consuming liquor within the club compound.

The liquor was consumed from an area that was not earmarked for consuming liquor. While the licence issued to the club is for ‘sale for consumption,’ the officials found the sale was of the bottle as a whole.

Stern action

Recommending cancellation of the licence for alleged violation of abkari laws, the Collector said the impunity with which the observance of dry day on Gandhi Jayanti was violated called for strong action, to reinforce people’s faith in the administration’s ability to enforce provisions of the laws.