Excise minister MP Renukacharya clarified on Friday that his ministry had no objection to permitting women as bartenders as per the Supreme Court order without violation of excise rules.
Excise minister MP Renukacharya clarified on Friday that his ministry had no objection to permitting women as bartenders as per the Supreme Court order without violation of excise rules.
He said that according to the rules of employment of women, pubs and restaurants need not seek permission from the excise department to employ female bartenders. “Only, they should follow the conditions of the excise department,” he said.
Renukacharya was speaking to the media after the high court on Thursday issued notices to the state government, city commissioner of police, and management of a bar and restaurant on a petition challenging the ‘oral’ ban on woman working in bars.
“We know that after the high court of Karnataka removed ban on employing women as bartenders based on Supreme Court order, 48 bars have employed women as bartenders in Bangalore,” said Renukacharya.
The petition was filed by Naziya and two others, previously employees of Chef Inn Regency Bar and Restaurant in Domlur. Their services were terminated following an oral instruction by the commissioner BG Jyothiprakash Mirji. They contended that women have the right to be employed in bars.
No hike in fee for bars
Renukacharya also said that the state government had no intention to hike the licence fee for bars and restaurants in the state. There was also no intention to issue fresh licence for bars, he said.
“Entrepreneurs Manjunath and Prakash from Shimoga came forward for production of wine from pineapple. They have conducted trials and now applied for permission from the department, their proposal is under the consideration. Once technical committee gives green signal we will give permission,” said the minister.
He also said that excise inspectors would soon have guns to control illicit liquor. “We have already provided the money to the police procurement board. They will purchase guns and supply it to the department,” he said.
Renukacharya said that the department had collected Rs2,633 crore as revenue in first quarter of the current financial year, a 15% increase from the corresponding period in the previous year.
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