Times View

MUMBAI: A hoteliers' association has moved Bombay high court to protest against posting of constables at restaurants and bars in the Chembur-Govandi belt after 9.30pm, to keep a check on what their patrons do. It has said the " moral policing " is scaring away customers and has affected business.According to the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) petition, filed through advocate Vishal Thadani, from December 2013, constables are being re-posted in restaurants and bars though they had been withdrawn earlier in the year.AHAR's members have a licence to serve food and liquor and play orchestra up to 1.30am. In October 2012, senior inspectors (SIs) of these police stations began to send a constable to each restaurant; they occupy one table and sit as observers from 9pm till 1.30am.When the SIs were unable to explain why they were posting constables during busy business hours, AHAR members met the police commissioner in January 2013. They complained that one table had to be kept vacant for the constable permanently and "the presence of a constable has scared away customers who found it embarrassing to eat and drink in their presence". Also, despite the constable, other officers kept visiting and "questioning customers who left out of sheer embarrassment and fear".The petition said the CP was satisfied that the action of local police stations "was not justified and accepted that the job of the police was not to do moral policing".On the CP's direction, the additional CP (East) wrote to zonal DCPs in January 2013 directing them that in future, no constables should be posted in restaurants and bars. Constables were withdrawn in February 2013. The petition states that, once again, from December 17, 2013, SIs (of Chembur and Govandi police stations) began to send the constables.The petition said on January 27, 2014, a hotelier received a letter from Chembur police station which stated constables were being posted as some restaurants and bars hold dance performances despite the ban, and to ensure there is no indecent behaviour in restaurants.AHAR said there is no provision under law that empowers the police commissioner, who is the licensing authority, to appoint constables in restaurants and bars to supervise their activities. Urging HC to quash the action, they prayed that pending hearing and disposal of the petition to restrain authorities (including CP and home department) from posting constables.Snooping and keeping watch on people with criminal links can be a part of policing. But keeping a watch on bars irrespective of the patrons there and posting constables there is moral policing and intimidation at its worst, reminiscent of gulags. Mumbai Police needs to get out of the mindset that all crime and social evils originate from drinking holes. Cops should focus on their job-helping citizens in distress (the behaviour of the GRP personnel in harassing a Samaritan is shameful) and registering FIRs for all crime (which they still refuse to do)-rather than intimidate bar owners and clients.