Kochi: Kerala high court on Monday refused to stay a single bench order granting permission to operate ten new four star-bar hotels in the state.

A division bench comprising Justice K.T. Sankaran and Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar passed the order while considering an appeal filed by the state challenging a single bench order.

The court observed that the petitioner bar owners were entitled to get their licence renewed and that only because of the latches on the part of the officials their licences were not renewed. The court admitted the plea and posted it to January 14 for detailed hearing.

Advocate General K.P. Dandapani argued that the single bench order was liable to be stayed. He also argued for at least an order of status quo on the issue.

The bench had earlier asked the state to comply with the single bench order after the bar owners filed a contempt plea before the court arguing that the state was not considering their request for renewing licence.

The court had asked the Excise Commissioner to comply with its order directing to renew the bar licences of ten bar hotels, including nine three-star and one four-star classification which are closed, within ten days.

The court also made it clear that if the Excise Commissioner failed to implement the order, he would be summoned.