Karnataka - Bangalore   

No compromise on serving liquor beyond 11.30 p.m., says Acharya

V.S. Acharya

BANGALORE: Home Minister V.S. Acharya has said that 11.30 p.m. is the deadline for serving liquor in bars, pubs and restaurants in Bangalore city and ruled out any relaxation in the timings.

The Minister’s statement assumes significance following pressure from the hospitality sector to extend the timings. The Government had no intention to change the rules, he said.

Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, Dr. Acharya said bars, pubs and restaurants could serve food 24 hours. But no liquor would be allowed to be served beyond the timings stipulated in the licensing conditions.

Stating that the Government had no plans to change the policy on allowing live bands, the Home Minister said a few restaurants had obtained orders from the Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court in favour of dancing, subject to the police overseeing implementation of the licensing conditions.

However, action would be taken against bars and restaurants if they violated the law, he said.

The Government had instructed the police to strictly ensure that resorts and dabhas on the outskirts of the city did not flout the 11.30 p.m. deadline on serving liquor. The Government would give priority to law and order in the city and illegal activities would be put down with an iron hand, the Minister said.

Stating that the Government would establish a separate intelligence department in the State by creating a separate cadre of policemen, he said special training would be given to police officials.

The police would be sent abroad for training in intelligence gathering, the Minister said.

The Government had decided to amend some of the provisions of the Karnataka Organised Crime Control Act (KOCA) for effective enforcement of the law. Changes would be introduced on the pattern of a similar law enacted by Maharashtra.

A decision on whether to come out with an Ordinance or bring it in the form of a Bill in the coming legislature session would be taken soon, he said.

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