Brewpubs stare at shutdown for flouting licencing laws
Most popular discotheques and pubs in the Capital have now been asked to remain closed by the police for running without a valid licence. Delhi’s famous discotheque Skooter at Samrat Hotel which has always been under controversy for expired licences has now been asked to play no music as they do not have discotheque and a dance floor licence with them. Popular pubs such as Warehouse Café and My Bar in Connaught Place have been asked to stay shut by the Delhi Police until their licence is renewed.
In a major crackdown launched by the Delhi Police pubs and discotheques which are running without licence have been brought to book. The licencing Department did the background work and issued letters to all the districts in the Capital mentioning names of various popular discotheques and pubs in the area which were running without a valid licence.
“A letter has been sent to all the districts in the Capital. They have been asked to verify and check if the licences are valid or not and accordingly take appropriate action,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (licencing) S Dash. Considered one of the best party places in Delhi, Skooter located at Samrat Hotel is not new to this as it has earlier been challaned a couple of times by the cops. The cops have challaned it for violating the required set of norms and for also running over the permitted time. The discotheque licence of the club had expired and it continued to function without a valid licence. The police officials on Friday asked the owner to stop playing the music and dance at the venue. The club is now only allowed to serve food and liquor. Restaurant licence of My Bar and Warehouse Café had expired as well. Both the places also play music even though they do not have the said discotheque licence with them.
Senior police officials said that they have asked the places to remain shut until their licence is renewed and also will consult the licensing department to seek if playing music in the background at restaurant could be permitted. There are other places that are in the same league and have the restaurant and excise licence but no licence for music, including Aqua at The Park, Route 04 in Khan Market, Irezumi in Janpath, Shiro in Samrat Hotel and Zerruco By Zilli in Ashok Hotel.
Café owners on the other hand said that the problem arises when the licence expires. “The licence expired in March 2014. The problem is that there is no one window system to renew the license. We first have to approach fire then NDMC Health Department then police then Excise Department. This process takes months,” said Priyank Sukhija, owner, Warehouse Café.
Surprisingly despite the tall claims made by the Delhi Police a party was hosted at Shiro on Saturday and Warehouse Café which was asked by the police to remain shut was only shut for a few hours and later opened.