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. 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 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. 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".