By IANS,
Bangalore : The Karnataka High Court Wednesday allowed women to work in bars and pubs but with adequate security, thus quashing the state government ban on their working at such places where liquor is served.
Justice D.V. Shylendra Kumar said the rule 9 of the Karnataka Excise Act 1965 that prohibits women from serving liquor at public places was “unconstitutional” and therefore “unenforceable”.
“Rule 9 (1) of the excise rules of 1967, framed under the act is ‘ultra vires’ and unenforceable. The sub-section of the act is unconstitutional, being violative of Articles 14, 15, 16, 21 and 39 of the constitution,” Kumar said.
The judicial order was in response to two writ petitions filed by a group of bar owners and women employees. The petitioners sought relief from the provisions of the act, prohibiting women from being employed in bars and pubs across the state.
According to the act, employing women to serve liquor was “unconstitutional”.
The judge also referred to a similar ruling by the Supreme Court last year, permitting women to be employed as bar tenders, with adequate safety and security to protect their life and property. The band had left thousands in the state jobless.