Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30 (IANS): Hours after a single-judge bench of the Kerala High Court Thursday allowed 62 heritage, four-and five-star hotel bars to operate from Thursday, it dismissed a fresh petition from the two-and three-star hotels seeking permission to operate for two more weeks.

Justice K. Surendra Mohan Thursday gave the verdict on a plea by the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association, which had sought permission to operate their bars.

The association was seeking time to enable them to go in appeal against the single-judge bench verdict.

As a result, all two-and-three-star hotels will have to down shutters with immediate effect.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy welcomed the verdict and said their policy has been accepted and it cannot be said it's only a partial victory, if one looks at the huge number of bars that have been ordered to close down.

But leader of opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said it was a setback because the government had earlier only allowed five-star hotel bars, but with this verdict, now four-star hotel bars can also be kept open.

The new liquor policy of the Kerala government, aiming to achieve complete prohibition in the state in a phased manner, provided that liquor would be served only in 21 five-star hotel bars, and all other bars in the state should be closed down from Sep 12.

The association moved the Kerala High Court, which Sep 3 upheld the government's decision. The association sought relief from the Supreme Court, which sent it back to the high court.

Thursday's verdict has come as a partial relief to the government. The association has announced that it would go in appeal against the verdict while state Excise Minister K. Babu said this verdict is no setback to the state government's liquor policy.

"Now we will study the verdict and decide the next course of action," said Babu.

State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran welcomed the verdict and said it has upheld the liquor policy of the state government.

"Now we will see what we can do to bring the four-star hotel bars also out of the present list and for that we will seek legal recourse," said Sudheeran.

Employees working in a three-star hotel in the state capital said this is a sad day for them.

"...we are so sad as we are left with no job. I have been in this industry for the past quarter of a century as a waiter in a bar restaurant," said a waiter.

Meanwhile, the state government has already begun talks with trade union leaders for devising a rehabilitation package for the registered employees working in the bars that will now be closed.

"One round of talks is over and very soon we will have a second round. We have asked the stake holders to come out with their suggestions," said Babu.

Another bar employee who has lost his job due to the closure of the bars said Kerala's loss would be Tamil Nadu's gain as tipplers will now cross the border to have a drink.

A tippler on being told that his favourite joint will be closed Thursday, shot back, "This government wants to promote only the rich and influential businessmen who own four-and-five-star hotels."

"But we are not going to stop drinking. We are people who have to have a drink every day because we work very hard and we just cannot afford to walk into the big hotels. Moreover will they allow us in because we do not wear trousers. Also, we will have to give what we earn everyday to them, if we drink at such big hotels," said the angry man.