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2005 Supreme(Bom) 531

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Sardar Refreshments
Versus
State of Maharashtra
Decided On Date: 15/4/05

Headnote:Bombay Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 - Sections 4, 19 and Schedule II, Entry 268 - Bombay Police Act, 1951, Section 33 - Grant of exemption from application of Section 19 of Act. - Endorsement made by Commissioner of Police on Eating House Licence that restaurant can remain open between 5 a.m. till 1.30 a.m. is contrary to exemption granted. - The restaurant of the petitioner had been listed as one of those establishments exempted from the opening and closing hours that are specified in Section 19 of the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act by notification of State Government dated 9th September, 1981 on the condition that it shall not be opened prior to 12.00 noon and would be closed after 2.00 a.m. The Commissioner of Police made an endorsement on the eating house licence issued under the Bombay Police Act, 1951, to the petitioner that the establishment can remain open between 5 a.m. till 1.30 a.m.

       Held, that insofar as the petitioner is concerned, there is a specific exemption from the application of Section 19 and the condition was that the establishment should not be opened earlier than 12 noon or closed after 2 a.m. This provision is a part of the Second Schedule to the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 and is therefore, a part of the statute. If the State Government desires to bring about any change in the Second Schedule to the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act, 1948, it has the power to do so by the simple expedient of a notification under the Act published in the official gazette. Until that is done, it would be impermissible by means of an administrative circular to issue directions which would run contrary to the opening and closing hours as they exist in pursuance of the exemption granted in the Second Schedule with reference to the premises of an establishment listed therein. The endorsement which is made on the eating house licence of the petitioner under the Bombay Police Act, 1951 in respect of the hours of work of the establishment is accordingly quashed and set aside

       

Judgment

D. Y. CHANDRACHUD, J.

( 1 ) THE Bombay Shops and Establishments Act 1948 inter alia defines the expression commercial establishment in Clause (4) of section 2 to mean an establishment which carries on any business, trade or profession or any work in connection with or incidental or ancillary to any business, trade or profession. The definition also excludes certain establishments and among them are residential hotels, restaurants, eating houses, theatres and other places of public amusement or entertainment. Clause (8) of section 2 defines the expression 'establishment' inter alia to mean a shop, commercial establishment, residential hotel, restaurant, eating house, theatre, or other place of public amusement or entertainment to which the Act applies. Section 7 of the Act provides for the registration of establishments. Section 19 inter alia provides for the opening the closing hours of restaurants and eating houses. Sub-section (1) of section 19 provides that notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment for the time being in force, no restaurant or eating house shall be opened on any day earlier than 5 a. m. and closed later than twelve midnight for service. The proviso thereto stipulates that an employee in restaurant or eating house may be required to commence work not earlier than 4. 30 a. m. and shall not be required to work later than 12. 30 a. m sub-section (2) of section 19 provides that subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) the State Government may fix later opening or earlier closing hours for different restaurants or eating houses or for different areas or for different periods of the year. A power to grant an exemption from the provisions of the Act is conferred in section 4. Section 4 provides that notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, the provisions of the Act mentioned in the third column of Schedule II shall not apply to the establishments, employees and other persons mentioned against them in the second column of the schedule. By the proviso to section 4, the State Government is empowered by notification in the Official Gazette to add, omit or alter any of the entries of the schedule subject to such conditions if any that may be prescribed in the notification. The Second Schedule to the Act contains in pursuance of section 4 a list of establishments and a statement of those provisions of the Act from which the establishments are exempted.

( 2 ) A restaurant by the name of Sardar Refreshments is in existent for well over two decades at Tardeo. The restaurant has an eating house licence. Entry 268 of the Second Schedule to the Bombay Shops and Establishments act, 1948 which was added by a notification dated 9th September, 1991 of the State Government is in respect of the establishment of the petitioner viz. Sardar Refreshments, 164-A Tardeo Road, opposite B. E. S. T. Depot, Tardeo bombay 400 034. Column 3 of the schedule corresponding to this entry specifies that the establishment is exempted from the provisions of section 19 subject to the condition that the establishment should not be opened on any day earlier than 12. 00 noon or closed after 2. 00 a. m. Thus, in so far as the governing provisions of the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act are concerned, the establishment of the petitioner is duly registered and is specifically listed as one of those establishments which is exempted from the opening and closing hours that are specified in section 19 subject to the condition that the establishment shall not open prior to 12. 00 noon or close after 2. 00 a. m.

( 3 ) SECTION 33 of the Bombay Police Act empowers the Commissioner, the district Magistrate or as the case may be the Superintendent of Police to make regulations with respect to the matters listed out in various Clauses of sub section (1 ). Clause (xa) of sub-section (1) which falls within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner is the registration of eating house including granting a certificate of registration in each




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