No immediate relief for suspended Excise Deputy Commissioners in bar licence row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Administrative Tribunal has rejected a plea filed by two Excise Deputy Commissioners seeking an immediate stay on their suspension in connection with the bar licence controversy. The petitions were filed by officials P K Satheesh and P L Shibu. The tribunal held that an immediate stay on the suspension orders could not be granted.

The suspended Deputy Commissioners had approached the Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam benches of the tribunal. The government strongly opposed their pleas, urging the tribunal not to grant an interim order or stay the suspensions without hearing its side in detail. Accepting the government's objection, the tribunal declined to grant an immediate stay and posted the petitions for detailed hearings on November 12.

The officials were suspended for allegedly acting contrary to the UDF government's decision not to grant licences to new bars before the introduction of a new excise policy. Excise Minister M Liju had directed that action be taken against them.