Kerala High Court rules retired CISF personnel entitled to liquor quota
Court holds denial of liquor canteen facilities to retired CISF personnel violates right to equality under Article 14
The Kerala High Court has overturned a 2024 order by the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that denied retired CISF officers access to liquor quotas available through canteens set up for retired Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel. Justice N Nagaresh found the government’s reasoning—that extending liquor facilities could impact discipline—unsustainable.
The Court emphasized that retired CISF personnel should not be subjected to different standards than their counterparts in CRPF, ITBP, BSF, and others, as all CAPFs perform sensitive national security duties. Denying liquor quota access exclusively to CISF retirees was deemed discriminatory and a violation of constitutional equality.
The Court directed the CISF DG to share data of retired CISF personnel with CAPF liquor canteens under the Central Liquor Management System (CLMS) and ordered the continuation of liquor sales to retired CISF officers via CLMS. The judgments affirm uniform welfare benefits for all paramilitary retired personnel.