Kerala Bar licences: ‘HC remarks won’t stop me from issuing directives’

Taking exception to the High Court observation that his circular to party-ruled local governing bodies regarding bar licence was illegal, Congress state president V M Sudheeran Tuesday said the court remarks would not prevent him from giving directions to party’s elected representatives on various issues.

On Monday, a division bench of the High Court had quashed Sudheeran’s circular which asbarked Congress-ruled local bodies not to grant NOC to bar hotels. The court had observed that Sudheeran was acting above the Constitution and that local bodies need not go by his circular.

Sudheeran said he could not agree with the court’s observations. “The court has breached its limits… The Congress state unit was not given an opportunity to explain its position. The court’s remarks indicate denial of natural justice,’’ he said.