Kolkata: Hookah bars will not be closed in Kolkata. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday set aside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) orders banning hookah bars. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said in his order that there is no state specific rule in this matter. So hookah bars are not illegal in these two cities.
A single bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of Calcutta High Court set aside the ban imposed by the state government on hookah bars in Kolkata and Bidhannagar as there is no state law to ban the same. pic.twitter.com/KS2zZs4BFH
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2023
The court said in its order, there are provisions in this regard in the Central Act as well. Even after that, the corporation wants to ban hookah bars in the city. For that they have to bring rules. Till then there should be no police action against the existing hookah bars. The court said that a special license is required to run these hookah bars. If hookah bars have to be closed, then strict steps will have to be taken for that. On December 2, hookah bars were ordered to be closed fearing drug trade.
