Bengaluru : Pubs to reopen as Karnataka govt to renew liquor licences following SC order

After a lot of confusion, the Central Business District in Bengaluru can once more get back to its usual hustle and bustle.

All thanks to the Supreme Court which clarified it's July 11 judgment. Now, pub owners can resume their business and many might just begin serving liquor by next Wednesday.

The SC has finally given permission for the renewal of liquor licences in the CBD. Furthermore, officials in the excise department will initiate the process of renewing licenses from Monday onwards.

The department had stopped renewing of licenses that expired on July 1 following the apex court's orders that banned the sale of liquor near



highways.

Ajit, proprietor of a popular pub on Church Street, tells India Today that the "SC clarified it's order on Wednesday at around 5.30 in the evening and the order was uploaded onto their website. Now excise has also sent a clarification saying that based on the SC order, we can go ahead and renew our licenses."

He plans to apply for license renewal on Monday and hopefully begin operations by Wednesday.

Close to 10,060 liquor vends in the state - five-star hotels, pubs, bars & restaurants and retails shops - closed their business following the expiry of the licences on July 1, 2017.

In Bengaluru city, about 660 vends were shut.