New Year eve deadline extended; Mumbai can party till 5 AM

Dubbing Mumbai police's directive of 1.30 AM deadline for eateries, hotels and restaurants in the metropolis on the New Year eve as illogical, the Bombay High Court today extended the revelry time to 5 AM.

Justice Gautam Patel was hearing a petition filed by Indian Hotels and Restaurant Association (AHAR) challenging the police directive setting 1.30 AM as the cut-off citing concerns of law and order, security and women safety.

Public prosecutor D A Nalavade pointed out to the court, recent reports regarding Indian Mujahideen terrorist Yasin Bhatkal's statement on the terror outfit planning nuclear bomb attacks in the country. The prosecutor also informed the court about seven alleged terrorists absconding from a jail in Madhya Pradesh, while arguing in support of the deadline.

The court, however, dismissed these reasons and said, "Threat perception to the city will be there all the time. Not just on December 31."

The court also refused to accept the women safety concern and said, "The Shakti Mills gangrape incident did not happen on December 31. It happened in a normal day. If proper precautions are taken, such incidents would not occur."

Petitioner's counsel Veena Thadani pointed out that the State Home department in its circular dated December 19 had permitted hotels to continue the party till 5 AM.

"If the Home department under which the police comes has no problem with the celebrations going on till 5 AM then why is the police setting deadline of 1.30 AM. This is without logic," Justice Patel said.

The court while extending the deadline to 5 AM said the hotels will have to give an undertaking that security inside the premises would be their responsibility.

The court has also allowed hotels to have indoor music on till 5 AM.

AHAR in its petition had also said that the 1.30 AM deadline was not imposed on five star hotels and pubs. "They are allowed to remain open till 3 AM. Why this discrimination? This is a very elitist outlook. Are only the rich allowed to party and celebrate ?" Thadani questioned.