SAMBAMOORTHY Vs. EXCISE INSPECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Guruvayur Temple is one of the most important temples in South India, where devotees from all over India, gather every day to offer their prayers. There are two main entrances to the temple, one on the eastern side, the "eastern Nada" and the other on the western side "the western Nada''. People join from both sides.

(2.) On 23-8-1985, the Board of Revenue (Excise), Trivandrum, accorded sanction for the issue of a foreign liquor Hotel (Restaurant) licence (FL 3 licence) to the fourth respondent for his hotel, Navaratna Gardens, Western Nada, Guruvayur.

(3.) The writ petitioner, a devotee, a Brahmin, and a resident of Guruvayur township has filed this writ petition challenging the grant and has moved for an interim injunction restraining the fourth respondent from conducting a 'bar' in this hotel.