Delhi High Court rejects PIL for banning cross-gender massages in spas and massage centres
The petitioner said cross-gender massages are carried out in various spas and massage centres in Delhi in violation of the government guidelines.
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Anuj Malhotra had sought a direction to share the recordings of spas or massage centres with the Delhi Commission for Women regularly. (File)The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking a direction for banning cross-gender massages in spas and massage centres in the city.
Petitioner Anuj Malhotra said cross-gender massages are carried out in various spas and massage centres in violation of the Guidelines for Operation of Spas/Massage Centres issued by the Delhi government on August 18, 2021. Malhotra had also sought a direction to share the recordings of spas or massage centres with the Delhi Commission for Women regularly.
On April 2, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora perused through the PIL petition and observed that a challenge to the validity of these Guidelines is pending consideration before a single-judge bench of the High Court.
“Since the learned single judge is already seized of the controversy, this Court is of the view that the present public interest cannot be entertained. Accordingly, the present petition is dismissed,” the bench said.
During the hearing on April 2, the petitioner’s counsel emphasised that as per Clause 2(b) of the Guidelines, cross-gender massages are prohibited in spas or massage centres in Delhi. He further stated such massages are being provided in locked rooms in violation of Clause 2(d) of the Guidelines. He also argued that cross-gender messages have led to the “operation and proliferation of illegal prostitution”.
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