In a significant development, the Kerala High Court has revoked the licence granted for the controversial Elappully brewery project. The decision has been hailed as a major victory by the opposition, which had raised serious objections to the approval process.
Opposition Leader Welcomes Court's Intervention
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, V D Satheesan, strongly welcomed the high court's ruling. He stated that the verdict validates the concerns consistently raised by the opposition against the project. According to Satheesan, the court's decision underscores the lack of transparency and the failure to follow due procedure that marred the project's approval.
"The high court verdict is a victory for the opposition's stand," Satheesan declared. He alleged that the state government attempted to push the brewery project forward without adhering to established norms and necessary protocols.
Court Exposes Procedural Lapses
Satheesan emphasized that the court's intervention has successfully exposed these critical lapses. He pointed out that the project was given the green light without conducting proper studies to assess its full impact. The ruling, he argued, powerfully reaffirms the fundamental need for transparency and accountability in governmental decisions, especially those with serious environmental and public health consequences.
The opposition's primary objections centered on three key issues:
- The opaque nature of the approval process.
- Bypassing mandatory procedural steps.
- The absence of comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments.
A Precedent for Accountability
This verdict is seen as setting an important precedent for future industrial and infrastructure projects in Kerala. It highlights the judiciary's role in ensuring that the executive branch operates within a framework of law and due diligence. The court's move to cancel the licence sends a clear message that projects with significant public impact cannot proceed without rigorous scrutiny and public trust.
The focus now shifts to the government's response and whether it will challenge the high court's decision in a higher forum. For now, the cancellation of the Elappully brewery licence stands as a notable instance of judicial oversight correcting perceived administrative overreach.
