New Delhi: Mumbai police's decision to let night clubs and bars operate 24X7 has sparked the debate on why Delhi shuts down these establishments just past midnight.
Despite having 85000 strong workforces, almost double of Mumbai Police, Delhi Police finds it difficult to maintain law and order and ensure women safety at late hours.
Delhi police, however, is firm the current deadline of shutting restaurants by 12.30-1am, depending upon their licence and type, shall prevail.
In the capital, even clubs that have a 24/7 licence can't play music after 1am though they can serve liquor.
Earlier in Mumbai, restaurants used to shut down by 12.30-1.30am and those in four-five stars went by 3.30am timings.
Police officials are of the view that keeping clubs and bars open till morning will lead to a spurt in crime. They rejected the club owner's plea that they can take care of their own security on the ground that clubs can't ensure their safety once they leave their premises.
They also fear that opening bars all night will also result in more incidents of drunken driving and pub brawls.
While talking to reporters, a senior police officer said, “There can't be a hard and fast rule when it comes to maintaining law and order and the security arrangements and permissions are city/town specific. In Delhi's scenario, we believe that shutting the clubs down by 1am helps the police in ensuring women's safety and maintaining law and order."
Delhi Police have been denying permission to nightclubs, pubs, and bars alleging that they don't follow the security guidelines led by them.
Currently, police commissioner B S Bassi has given strict instructions to all the joint commissioners of police to ensure these establishments are shut down latest by 1 am.
However, clubs had appealed for extension, while promising to adhere to rules.
The issue is dealt on priority basis, the SHO of the respective police stations have to inform the DCP about the timely closure who, in turn, informs his joint CP and the communication also reaches the special commissioner and the commissioner.
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