Judgement reserved on live band issue

Bangalore, Mar 13 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today reserved orders on a batch of petitions, challenging the legality of the police rules for running live band shows in restaurants.

Mr Justice Ajit J Gunjal reserved orders after arguments of both sides concluded on the petitions, filed by the Karnataka Live Band Restaurants Association and some owners of such joints, challenging the legality and constitutionality of the 'Licensing and Controlling of Places of Public Entertainment (Bangalore city) order 2006' framed by the city police Commissioner in exercise of his powers under the Karnataka Police Act.

The petitioners contended that the impugned rules were strict and unconstitional as it violated the fundamental right of carrying out business. As these rules were only applicable for Bangalore and not any other place, it was discriminatory and liable to be struck down as ultra vires of Article 14 of the Constitution, they submitted.

The police justified the rules on the ground that a number of criminal cases and offences were directly linked to such joints and submitted that they had the legal competency to regulate places of public entertainment.

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