Show us policy on 24x7 bars & pubs in 2 weeks: Bombay High Court to Maharashtra government

The Bombay high court on Wednesday gave two weeks to the state government to place on record the policy decision, if any taken by it, with regards to allowing pubs/restaurants to remain open 24x7 in Mumbai.

A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice V L Achliya issued the directive during the hearing of a PIL filed by Help Mumbai Foundation seeking implementation of the C S Dharmadhikari report.

The court adjourned the matter for two weeks after additional government pleader Molina Thakur said that the assembly session of the state legislature was going on and no instruction on the policy had been given.

Earlier, the HC had stayed a proposed policy to press the government to take a decision. "Consider the impact of safety of woman. Otherwise the recommendations given by the Justice C S Dharmadhikari committee will be futile," the court had said.

The Dharmadhikari Committee, while recommending a complete ban on dance bars, had noted that there was a drop in cases of atrocities against women when the state had banned it in the past.

The plan of letting city pubs and restaurants stay open all night was initiated by Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray last year. Recently city police chief Rakesh Maria had also given a go-ahead to the proposal.

Meanwhile, the court also also directed the state to spell out whether it proposes to direct private hospitals to give free medical aid to rape victims as is being done in government hospitals.