Karnataka HC allows women to work in bars

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AgenciesPosted: Sep 24, 2008 at 2050 hrs IST

Bangalore, September 24: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday allowed women to be employed as hostesses in bar and restaurants where liquor is served.

The court, while passing orders on a batch of petitions, held Rule 9 of the Excise Rules which prohibits employment of women as bars hostesses and Section 20 (2) of the Karnataka Excise Act as violative of the Constitution.

The petitioners C Ramesh and others had challenged these provisions.

Justice D V Shylendra Kumar, while rejecting the Government advocate's contention that since children and women needed to be protected in such places, ruled that ‘the Rule 9 of the said Act is ultra virus and unenforceable and Sub Section 2 of Section 20 of the Act is unconstitutional as it violates Article 14, 15, 16, 21 and 39 of the Constitution’.

The petitioner had submitted that he is running a bar and restaurant which is licensed by the authorities and it is his desire to provide employment to women as hostesses to provide better facilities to customers which are comparable to international standards.

Another petition filed by Roopa and others, who lost their jobs after the police closed down dance bars, had also challenged these provisions.

The city police had shut down dance bars invoking the provisions of the Excise Act.

Meanwhile, the Live Band Association has welcomed the decision of the High Court saying it would enable women to be employed in these bars.

There are about 5,000 Bar and Restaurants in Karnataka and if each employs five women, it translates into 25,000 jobs for women which is a huge employment opportunity, the Association said.

When the live bands closed down, about 1,200 women lost their jobs, he said.