Taking serious note of the alleged denial of entry to a differently-abled rights activist Nipun Malhotra by Keya restaurant located in a South Delhi mall, the Delhi Government on Saturday ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vasant Vihar to conduct the enquiry and submit the report by Tuesday.
Nipun Malhotra, who was born with arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder, which leads to lack of muscles in arms and legs, was allegedly denied entry into the eatery on Friday night. Malhotra who is also co-founder of the Nipman Foundation, alleged that the security at the restaurant stopped him when he arrived there with his brother around 9 pm on Friday to join eight other friends for dinner.
“Our friends had decided to go to Keya restaurant for dinner. Nine of my friends, five boys and three girls went to the restaurant. One of my friends politely told the manager that one of them would be coming on a wheelchair and that he should ensure that he reaches the table.
“The manager asked if the friend was injured or had a disability. When my friend informed him that he has a disability, the manager said that as a policy they do not allow disabled people inside,” Malhotra claimed.
“When my friend told me about it, I could not believe him and reached there with my brother. The security there stopped us from going inside saying the hotel’s policy does not allow disabled inside and started pulling my wheelchair.
“I was shocked. The manager then came out and to flip the argument said that we do not allow stag entries. When I told him that already three of my male friends and many others were inside, then how could he say that they do not allow stag entriesIJ” Malhotra said.
The restaurant said it was a case of misunderstanding. “It is a clear case of misunderstanding. Because of Holi, we were getting a lot of drunk people at the gate. As a precautionary measure we were restricting the number of boys inside,” said General Manager Premjit Kumar
“Nipun was accompanied by two more boys and allowing them inside would have increased the number of men. So we just said that we are not allowing anymore stag entries,” the manager claimed.
Javed Abidi, Convener of the Disability Rights Group, said those behind the incident should be punished. “It is horrible without any doubt. It defies the Disability Act of 1995. In fact, the act should not just be condemned but also severely punished,” he said.
Reacting on the incident, TMC leader Derek O’ Brien tweeted his email ID to Malhotra asking for details and promised to raise the issue in Parliament next week. Without commenting on the merits of any individual case till the inquiry findings come out, the Delhi Government has made it clear that national Capital should lead by example on how people from all segments of the society have a right to live their lives honourably.
“It was brought to the notice of the Deputy Chief Minister that the bar and restaurant KEYA located in the DlF Promenade Mall, had reportedly refused to allow entry to Nipun Malhotra on Friday evening,” Government said in its Press release.