A restaurant that allegedly denied entry to a saree-clad woman in Delhi was issued a closure notice by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation for operating without a correct trade license, following which the owner said he has shut operations.
SDMC officials said on Wednesday that a closure notice was issued to the Aquila Restaurant located at Ansal Plaza in Andrews Ganj for operating without a legitimate licence.
The September 24 closure notice said the world public health inspector found during a check on September 21 that the ability is running without a health trade licence and under unhygienic conditions. It also flagged encroachment on public land.
“The public health inspector again inspected the positioning on September 24 and located that the trade is running under the identical condition. you’re directed to shut the trade within 48 hours of the receipt of this notice failing which suitable action including sealing are going to be taken without assigning further notice,” the SDMC notice issued to the restaurant-owner said.
In his response on September 27, the owner said, “I have closed-down the above said trade immediately and 1 shall not run the identical trade without SDMC Trade Licence under insanitary condition from health point of view and make nuisance.”
In a social media post last week a girl had alleged she was refused entry within the south Delhi restaurant because she was wearing a saree.
The woman had also posted a brief video of her argument with the restaurant staff, alongside a pair of images of herself within the saree.
Later, the restaurant claimed that the incident was “misrepresented”.
In the SDMC House meeting Wednesday, Congress councillor from Andrews Ganj Abhishek Dutt raised the difficulty and moved a proposal demanding a fine of ₹ 5 lakh be imposed against any restaurant, bar or hotel that denies entry to someone wearing traditional Indian attire.
“The restaurant was running illegally without licence. The notice was issued to the eatery only after I raised the problem. Now, the authorities have informed that the restaurant has been shut. it’s a matter of probe that how the restaurant was running without a licence.
Taking cognisance of the case the National Commission for ladies (NCW) had on September 23 had asked the Delhi Police to probe the incident.
