New Delhi: Once again the party hub of South Delhi has come under the scanner with the Delhi high court asking the police to give a detailed report on the action taken against restaurants and bars serving alcohol without license in and around the Hauz Khas Village.
The green court had earlier shut down more than a dozen of restaurants in the Hauz Khas area in 2014 as they were operating without a fire NOC, essentially making the crowds vulnerable to any untoward incident. Last year, the owner of a cafe had died after a fire broke out in the area.
On Tuesday, a bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal also asked municipal corporation and the police officials concerned to inform whether such pubs and joints are being operated or not.
The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on February 14 when it will also hear another PIL seeking action against unauthorised constructions in South Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village area and its restaurants allegedly operating without necessary licences.
The court’s directions came on a plea by advocate Anuja Kapur, who said that such pubs and bars do not have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the authorities concerned, leading to violation of the law.
The petitioner alleged in her plea that the cops are not seen in that area, because of which several other illegal activities are carried on by the pub owners.
While seeking direction to impose a complete ban on such pubs and bars, the plea alleged that their owners are running those activities in connivance with local police.
She also said in her plea that she had written to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and senior police officials ,but no action was taken against the violators.
