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Journalism of Courage
March 27: Does one need a licence to run a beauty parlour in Mumbai? The metropolitan magistrate of the 39th Court, Vile Parle, has ruled in the negative.
The magistrate has stated that a parlour is not a scheduled trade/business covered under the provisions of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Act.
A beauty parlour owner K P Bhatt, represented by advocate L V Torke, moved the magistrate’s court praying for discharge in an offence registered under the BMC Act. The offence was registered since the parlour owner had not sought a licence. The accused argued that a beauty parlour does not fall in Schedule `M’ of the BMC Act, and therefore, does not need a licence.
But the BMC counsel argued for the necessity of a licence. It was stated that a parlour is a shop providing specific services and goods, and that the BMC had framed a bye-law to include beauty parlours in the schedule M. A circular to that effect had been sent by the BMC.
However, counsel for the accused argued that a bye-law passed by theBMC cannot decide the fate of beauty parlours in the city. The bye-law must be confirmed either by the Central government or the state government and must be published in the official gazette, only then can it become a rule. After hearing both sides, the metropolitan magistrate N E Tayade held the accused was not guilty of an offence under the BMC Act.
