HC To UP Authorities To Deal With Applications For Running Hookah Bars

The Prayagraj Court today asked Uttar Pradesh authorities to deal with the applications seeking to grant or licence renewal to run Hookah Bars within a time period of one month from the date of filing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the running of such bars was banned in Uttar Pradesh and also in different districts of the States which were then discontinued.

A bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker & Justice Saumitra Dayal observed that “COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have been largely relaxed and therefore the interveners may be allowed to recommence their business. They have relied on the facts and circumstances of similar businesses being allowed to run in different states of the country.”

The additional Advocate General Manish Goel submitted the intervenes that have not yet applied to the legal authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

In the case they applied that their request will be considered strictly in accordance with the law as quickly as possible.

The court stated in its order that “In view of the fact that undisputedly the business of running of hookah bars is regulated under the aforesaid Act, it is left open to the individual interveners to apply to the statutory authority for grant/renewal of licence to run their respective hookah bars.”

The court further added that “If such applications are made by the present individual interveners or other similarly situated persons, the same may be dealt with strictly in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of one month from the date of filing of such application.”