HC upholds midnight deadline for restaurants

HC upholds midnight deadline for restaurants


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Express News ServiceFirst Published : 04 Jul 2009 01:03:41 PM ISTLast Updated : 04 Jul 2009 01:04:54 PM IST
BANGALORE: The High Court on Friday upheld the order of the Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari to fix midnight as the closing deadline for the city’s hotels.
Dismissing the petition of the Empire group of hotels, Justice NK Patil said under section 31 (w) of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, the commissioner has the power to regulate and control hotels in the city.
The court accepted the Advocate General’s contention that the order was general in nature, under public entertainment. The court noted that the police have set the deadline in order to maintain law and order and for public safety. The order was passed for safety of the hotel employees as well, it added.
The petitioner’s counsel had argued that under the Shops and Establishment Act, the state has the power to regulate the hotels, but the police does not have such power. The police commissioner had passed the order on May 19.
The Empire group of hotel had argued that the order had affected its business.