HC says no to bars in clubs during Thevar Jayanthi

Court dismisses petition filed by six recreation clubs, challenging Collector’s order

The Madras High Court bench here on Friday declined permission to recreation clubs in the city to run their bars from October 26 to October 30, contrary to the Collector’s closure order.

The Collector had passed on order on October 17 curbing TASMAC outlets, bars in star hotels and recreation clubs from staying open for the three days in the interest of maintaining law and order during the birth anniversary of Pasumpon U. Muthuramalinga Thevar, a freedom fighter and prominent Mukkulathor community leader, on October 30.

Justice T. Raja dismissed a petition filed by the representatives of six recreation clubs, challenging the Collector’s order, observing that “he was not inclined to interfere with the order of the district administration.”

In their petition, the petitioners submitted that the recreation clubs possessed licences obtained from officials and were functioning without disturbing the public.

The Collector had imposed the restriction without issuing a showcause notice to the clubs or giving an opportunity to the owners of the club to express their views on the restriction, they contended.

Therefore, they pleaded that the order of the collector should be set aside and they be permitted to function without any restriction.

The additional advocate general submitted that the Collector had passed the order ordering closure of bars to maintain public peace. There was no restriction on opening the recreation club, but the bars attached to the clubs should remain closed as per the collector’s order, he pointed out.

Justice Raja recorded the submissions of the additional advocate general and dismissed the petition.