In a move aimed at employing women in liquor shops in Kerala, the state excise department is planning to amend Kerala abkari shops disposal rules 2002 and foreign liquor rules 1953 that bar them from doing so.

Currently, there are restrictions imposed on women from being employed in bar hotels, beer and wine parlours and outlets under Kerala State Beverages Corporation Limited (Bevco) and clubs.

The proposal, which in effect will see women working in these outlets, will be sent to the government soon for ratification, reports KP Saikiran of the Times of India.

The excise department is trying to change the rules following two High Court rulings on the subject in favour of women.

The High Court in 2013 ordered that it needs not much cogitation to hold that rule 27 A of Kerala Foreign Liquor Rules as well as condition 9A fall foul of the Constitutional scheme of gender equality as has been spelt out in articles 14, 15 (1) and (2) and 16 (1) of the constitution.

The order was passed by a single judge bench of the High Court by Justice Dama Sheshadri Naidu in Dhanyamol CJ versus State Of Kerala case.

In another order, the High Court ruled that the Public Service Commission should immediately take steps to appoint six women who were in its rank list for appointment as peons and helpers in Bevco, but were denied citing rules.