Bangalore: State Govt Releases Guidelines to Operate Pubs, Dance Bars, Ladies Service Bars, Recreati

Bellevision Media Network

Bangalore, 09 July 2013: The state government officially released the guidelines to operate pubs, dance bars, ladies service bars and recreation centers across Karnataka.  It has specified the most essential rules that ought to be followed by the managing committees of such recreation centers, in order to curb any law and order disturbances in their respective premises.  It has key aspects on safety, facility, providing private security at recreation centers, parking and renewal of licenses.

 

 

 

Licensing term reduced:

The licenses are issued with 1 year validity that got to be renewed.  The local administration will decide on approving the license and duration of its validity depending upon the circumstances.  The guidelines were issued by state home department (law and order) division additional secretary Sushma Godbole.

Hub of immoral activities:

At the background of metro emerging as hub of immoral activities, the state home minister K J George instructed the police force to stall functioning of pubs and dance bars.  It was alleged that these recreational centers were involved sexual exploitation, drug abuse, betting, gambling and such other illegal activities.  At the backdrop of these allegations, the law enforcement agencies shut down dance bars, pubs and ladies bars.  Meanwhile, the pub and bar owners appealed to court against the closure.

 

Key aspects of guidelines:

Waitresses should be over 21 years.

Dress-code is mandatory to waitresses, trouser, T-shirt, salwar khamees (Duppatta)

The information of waitresses should be provided to local police station and labour department, which should include photograph, copy  of voter’s ID and permanent address.

The owners are responsible for the information of waitresses over its genuineness.

To take safety measures of waitresses.

It’s mandatory to provide healthcare, ESI and PF.

The owners have to take a letter expressing interest to work from the waitresses while joining.

It’s mandatory to provide minimum wages and other facilities to staff.

Salaries should be paid by cheque and ECS transfers.

If the waitress resigns from service and replaced by another woman, which has to be intimated to the licensing Authority within 10 days.
CCTV with a minimum of 24 mega pixel has to be installed in such centers.

CCTV footage should be retained by the owners for at least 3 months.  If the footages are found to be tampered; legal actions will be taken on them.

CCTV footages should be submitted to local police station.  If the police officer finds any illegal activities that are taken place, legal actions can be taken on such erring owners.  CCTV footages had to be submitted to court, police and government department officer as and when they are required.

The staff should be provided with free transport.

Throwing of currency notes, pinching and other mischievous acts on waitresses is banned.

The customers only dance in dance bars.

The staff should not be transferred elsewhere other than already agreed upon as furnished with concerned authorities.

None was allowed to capture pictures of staff including waitresses.

Private security has to be assigned at the recreation centers.

The local police should be informed whenever suspicious people, goons, social

destructive-elements, thieves arrive at the recreation centers.

None was allowed to carry arms other than police inside the recreation centers.