Maharashtra Assembly clears bill permitting eateries, malls to stay open 24X7

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 11 (ANI): The Maharashtra Assembly has passed Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, enabling owners or shops, hotels, malls, theatres and multiplexes in the state to keep their establishments open round the clock. The bill however does not permit bars, pubs, wine shops and disco-theques to be open round the clock. Restaurants in residential areas also need to apply for additional clearances. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the police restrictions and clearances would still apply on the timings. The Chief Minister had clarified that the Bombay Police Act would prevail and the police would take action if residents filed complaints against the restaurants. "The same type of establishment and those located in the same area will have the same timings," he said. Hailing the decision, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray, in a series of tweets said the Act will boost business, employment, revenue and taxes in the city. "I thank all who supported the vision to boost Mumbai's tourism, revenue, employment through 'Mumbai 24 Hours' proposed by the BMC in 2013," Aaditya said in his tweet. "This act is not only a great win for me, but all the citizens of Mumbai. Only those, who didn't trust Mumbaikars, criticised it," he tweeted. According to reports, the government has made it clear that the establishments will have to follow all the existing rules related to labour laws and make adequate security arrangements for women. The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), however, expressed its dismay that the Bill allows shops to remain open 24x7 only after they obtain an area-wise consensus on the timings. The Assembly passed the bill late on Wednesday. It will now require clearance of the legislative council, after which it will go to the President as the subject is from the concurrent list. (ANI)