Hookah Parlors Must Be Shut Down By Law, The Calcutta High Court Has Urged The Bengal Administration
On January 24, the Calcutta High Court overturned the state’s decision to outright outlaw hookah lounges in Kolkata and Bidhannagar. Since hookah is not illegal in the state, according to Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, prohibiting parlors would not be appropriate.
He claimed that a new law would need to be passed if the state wanted to outlaw hookah lounges. Now, the police are powerless to take action against any bar that serves hookah to customers.
In December, the West Bengal government imposed a ban on hookah bars in Kolkata, citing a detrimental effect on the general public’s health. The licenses of businesses that function as hookah bars in the city would be revoked, according to Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. A few days following the ruling, the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation requested the same kind of prohibitory orders against these parlors.
In a report that was presented to the court, the police commissioner for Kolkata stated that action is taken against anyone who breaks the law. According to a report given to the court by the police, 17 cases have already been filed. Members of the Kolkata Restaurants Association filed a lawsuit in court to overturn the ban’s order.
News Mania Desk
