BENGALURU: Establishments wanting to obtain a licence from the police to host live bands at buildings constructed before May 1, 1977, will now have to get a building fitness certificate from the jurisdictional executive engineer. They could also get the certificate from an officer of a higher rank in BBMP, the Karnataka High Court directed on Monday.
This cut off date was fixed as the Karnataka Municipal Act, 1976, was enacted post-May 1. Justice Aravind Kumar issued this direction after the state government submitted a memo suggesting the fitness certificate for the buildings constructed before 1977, where the live bands are operating.
The court disposed of the petitions filed by some of the city's bars and restaurants. They had moved the High Court after the city police commissioner issued a 'closure notice' to them as they failed to provide occupancy certificate, which is mandatory to get a license as per the Licensing and Controlling of Places of Public Entertainment (Bangalore City) Order, 2005.
After the Supreme Court issued directions to the city police commissioner to check that bars and restaurants, including live bands, should not cause noise pollution and ensure safety measures as per the provisions of the Licensing and Controlling of Places of Public Entertainment (Bangalore City) Order, 2005, the city police have taken steps to implement it. Notices were served to hundreds of bar and restaurants.