The Kerala High Court has set aside the state government’s preliminary approval granted to establish a brewery at Elappully in Palakkad district, delivering a major setback to the government. The court observed that the approval was granted to Oasis Company without conducting a proper and detailed study.
A Division Bench headed by Justice Sathish Ninan ruled that the government’s decision was taken in haste and was contrary to established procedures. The court directed that the government may take a fresh decision only after carrying out a comprehensive and scientific assessment and by strictly following all prescribed procedures.
The court noted that the preliminary approval, granted on January 16, 2025, lacked adequate evaluation of critical factors. It emphasised that administrative decisions of such significance must be backed by detailed studies and due diligence.
The ruling came while considering a batch of petitions challenging the government’s decision to permit the brewery. Petitioners had argued that Elappully is a water-scarce region, and large-scale extraction of groundwater for the brewery could turn the area into a near-desert, causing severe environmental damage.
While the state government maintained that all necessary procedures had been followed before granting approval, the court disagreed, holding that the process was flawed and premature. The judgment requires the government to revisit the issue afresh, keeping environmental and procedural safeguards at the forefront.
