New policy soon on B'lore's nightlife, dance bars

The State government is likely to come out with a new policy on dance bars, live bands, game parlours and nightlife in the City shortly.

The draft policy is ready and will be announced after it is approved by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J  George, highly placed sources said.

“The draft has been finalised after gathering inputs from various agencies, including the Bangalore police commissioner.

There are certain sensitive issues which need to be thoroughly looked into before taking a final call,” V Umesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Home department, told Deccan Herald. He said some inputs have been added keeping in view the High Court order permitting bar owners to employ waitresses.

The draft also includes inputs from Home secretary Raghavendra H Auradkar. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pronab Mohanty took the lead role in finalising the guidelines on dance bars and waitresses.

“These are not recommendations, but informal suggestions we have made. They are not final as they need to be approved by the government. Some of the suggestions were already in existence,” Mohanty said.

He declined to divulge details of the draft suggestions. To discuss these issues, the Home minister on June 21 had convened a high-level meeting of various stakeholders, including owners of bars and five-star hotels, representatives from various organisations, senior officials of the excise and police departments at the Vikasa Soudha.

Dress code

Sources in the Home department said Bangalore City police have made a series of suggestions regarding bar waitresses.

They have recommended introduction of provident fund (PF) facility to waitresses and a proper dress code for them. Bar owners should show the police a few dress codes and get their approval.

Another important suggestion is that bar owners should mandatorily obtain a letter of approval from the parents of the women to be employed as waitresses.

Currently, bar owners can employ women even without approval from their parents. The police have suggested that bar owners share with them the details of waitresses such as their family background, age, qualification, the sources said.

The City police were particular about certain issues pertaining to waitresses as a section of them allegedly indulged in prostitution.

The police have also suggested installation of CCTV cameras in areas where liquor is served, verification of music content and employing security guards, considering the number of visitors per day and the location of the joint, added the sources.