State too responsible for eateries' compliance: Bombay HC
As directed by the HC earlier this week, the BMC on Wednesday submitted its policy for granting licenses to rooftop hotels and restaurants.
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday said that not only municipal corporations but it was the responsibility of the Maharashtra government as well to check that hotels, restaurants and bars were following all norms and conditions. The court said, “If there are any violations in hotels or bars or restaurants where liquor is being served, it is the state excise department's responsibility and job, too, to keep a check, and if they find any violations, action should be taken against violators.”A division bench of justices R.M. Borde and R.G. Ketkar was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former police commissioner Julio Ribeiro seeking a judicial inquiry into the Kamala Mills fire which claimed 14 lives on December 29 last year. “There has to be some mechanism to carry out periodic checks on such eateries to ensure that there are no violations,” the bench said.
As directed by the HC earlier this week, the BMC on Wednesday submitted its policy for granting licenses to rooftop hotels and restaurants, including the two pubs 1Above and Mojo’s Bistro where the fire broke out in the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai last year. Sujay Kantawala, counsel for Mr Ribeiro, informed the court that there were 70 eateries in the Kamala Mills compound and that vehicles had less parking area in the premises. The court asked advocate Kantawala to argue on setting up of the judicial commission and said that it would likely pass an order on the issue of the judicial commission on Thursday. The bench will continue hearing the matter on Thursday.