THE KERALA BAR HOTELS ASSOCIATION vs STATE OF KERALA .

The Supreme Court upheld the Kerala High Court's decision regarding the Abkari Policy for 2014-15, which permits only Five Star hotels to serve alcohol in public, thereby reversing the Single Judge's ruling that allowed Four Star and Heritage hotels to obtain FL-3 licenses. The Court found that the exclusion of these hotels was not arbitrary and did not violate Article 14 of the Constitution. The judgment emphasized the state's interest in regulating alcohol consumption due to social issues, referencing Sections 10 and 24 to 29 of the Abkari Act, 1077.