Palike seals community hall for hosting events illegally

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials have sealed off the Vardhaman Sthanakavasi party hall for “hosting commercial events without a trade licence” on Poornachandra Tejasvi Road in Hanumanthanagar.

The hall managers rented out the space yet again for an event despite the Palike prohibition of the same in the absence of a trade licence.

Action was initiated for the second time within a month, based on a complaint by the Mount Joy Residents’ Welfare Association secretary Ravishankar and office-bearer Arthur Solomon.

According to Ravishankar, the building plan was sanctioned in 1997 for a party hall with a basement for car parking without kitchen or dining hall, meant only for community purposes.

There was no mention of commercial activities, but the managers of the hall grossly misused it by renting it out commercially for parties and other events outside the community without obtaining a trade licence.

In September last when the noise from these commercial events became unbearable, Ravishankar and Solomon lodged complaints with various authorities including the BBMP commissioner, Chief Secretary and the Lokayukta. Finally, the officials ordered the closure of the building for running commercial activities without a trade licence.

Ravishankar said, “On December 27, 2014  the premises was sealed. Later on January 9, the building was reopened on the basis of an undertaking that the managers will not host any function without obtaining the trade licence.”

However, in violation of the order, the owners of the party hall rented out the building for a commercial event on January 23. Ravishankar and Solomon lodged a complaint with the BBMP officials immediately, and the building was sealed once again that evening.