HC rider on functioning of bars and restaurants

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday allowed owners of bars and restaurants to carry on their business with a rider that they will not employ women for at least a week.

Bangalore Ladies’ Working Bars and Restaurants Owners’ Association had moved the court alleging that the City police were interfering in their business by forcibly closing bars on the pretext of law and order.

They also sought the court’s intervention in ensuring the smooth functioning of bars and restaurants.

During the hearing, the State government sought more time to formulate guidelines, as the meeting held earlier last week was inconclusive.

However, when the petitioners filed an undertaking that they will not employ women in bars and restaurants for at least a week and requested for permission to carry on with their businesses, Justice Mohan Shantanagowdar accepted it and adjourned the matter.

The petitioners submitted that the police cannot lock up their premises or prevent them from continuing their businesses, as such intervention was unjust, arbitrary and illegal.

They said that they were running their businesses with licences.

University appointments

The High Court has directed the State government to furnish records pertaining to the nomination and withdrawal of appointments of Syndicate members to University of Mysore.

Hearing a petition filed by Syndicate members A M Bhaskar, Hirendra Shah and others whose nominations were withdrawn by the government on June 15, Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri directed that details in this regard be furnished by Tuesday.

The petitioners have termed the withdrawal of their nomination arbitrary, capricious and contrary to the University Act.

Senior counsel K M Natraj, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, submitted that there was no material against the petitioners and that they had been appointed under the category of eminent educationists, recognising their expertise in education.

Stating that these members did not have any political background or allegiance to any political party, the counsel said the government had no authority to withdraw the nominations prematurely for mere political reasons.

“May be, it is a pleasure post, but there are no reasons for withdrawing their nomination,” he said.

He submitted that the members were not given an opportunity and sought quashing of the government order withdrawing their nomination.

Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar in his submission said these members were appointed following recommendations by former chief minister Sadananda Gowda.
Stating that they were appointed by the then chief minister after he received a letter from the BJP leaders, Kumar furnished the letter to the court.

“This letter is signed by Nirmal Kumar Surana, vice president, Bangalore district BJP wing, and it requests to appoint the members stating that it has been recommended by the BJP district unit president. People who come by arbitration cannot complain about their termination,” he said.

The court suggested that the government should not make any appointments till the disposal of the matter.