Shock to CM Jagan Reddy, High Court stays govt's order on new bar policy

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has imposed a six-month stay on the suspension of bar licenses. In the wake of minimising the bars by 40 per cent in the state, the owners of the bars approached the High Court on the revocation of licenses for the next six months.

The High Court has questioned the government on why do cancellation of the license before it could expire. The government has abruptly cancelled all bar licenses, even though some bar licenses expire until 2020. The AP government has announced that alcohol will be banned in phases. Against this backdrop, the government has revoked all bar licenses already in AP. The owners of the bars moved to the High Court.

The High Court has directed the government to file an affidavit by 7th of this month and asked the bar owners to submit counter by 16 this month. The AG told the govt to postpone the issue of licenses to be held on the 7th of next month. The case has been postponed to December 23.