Karnataka High Court
M/S Food Buffs Llp vs State Of Karnataka on 2 November, 2023
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
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NC: 2023:KHC:38927
WP No. 23746 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
WRIT PETITION NO. 23746 OF 2023 (GM-POLICE)
BETWEEN:
M/S. FOOD BUFFS LLP
RUNNING A HOTEL UNDER THE NAME
"STORIES BREWERY AND KITCHEN"
SITUATED AT NO. 62,
MUNIVENKATAPPA LAYOUT,
BILEKAHALLI, B.G. MAIN ROAD,
BEGURU HOBLI, BANGALORE SOUTH TALUK,
BANGALORE - 560 076.
REGISTERED OFFICE AT NO.17/17.
DEEPA PLAZA, 3RD FLOOR,
24TH MAIN, 1ST PHASE,
J.P. NAGAR,
BANGALORE - 560 078.
Digitally signed by REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING
PADMAVATHI B K
DIRECTOR/PARTNER,
Location: HIGH
COURT OF MR. NERALL BAKHAI,
KARNATAKA (THE PETITIONER'S FIRM IS REGISTERED UNDER
THE PROVISIONS OF LLP ACT, 2008)
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. GOVINDARAJU K., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY,
HOME DEPARTMENT,
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VIDHANA SOUDHA,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
2. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
BENGALURU CITY, INFANTRY ROAD,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
MICO-LAYOUT CITY SUB DIVISION,
BENGALURU - 560 100.
4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
MICO-LAYOUT POLICE STATION,
BENGALURU - 560 100.
5. THE CENTRAL CRIME BRANCH,
NARCOTIC DEPARTMENT,
MYSORE ROAD, CHAMARAJPET,
BENGALURU - 560 018.
REPRESENTED ITS INSPECTOR.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. MANJUNATH K., HCGP)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO i) DIRECTION TO
THE RESPONDENTS NOT TO INTERFERE IN THE BUSINESS OF
THE PETITIONER INCLUDING SERVING HOOKAH TO ITS
CUSTOMERS IN SMOKING AREA IN THE SCHEDULE PROPERTY.
ii) FURTHER DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS NOT TO INSIST UPON
THE PETITIONER TO OBTAIN SEPARATE LICENCE FOR SERVING
HOOKAH IN THE SCHEDULE PROPERTY AND ETC.,
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
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WP No. 23746 of 2023
ORDER
Heard Sri. Govindaraju K., learned counsel appearing for
the petitioner and Sri. Manjunath K., the learned HCGP
appearing for the respondents.
2. The petitioner is before this Court, seeking for the
following prayers:
"(i). Issue a mandamus direction to the respondents
not to interfere in the business of the petitioner
including serving Hookah to its customers in
smoking area in the schedule property.
(ii) Further direct the respondents not to insist upon
the petitioner to obtain separate licence for
serving Hookah in the schedule property.
(iii) Pass such other further relief by this Hon'ble court
deems fit in the circumstances of the case in the
interest of justice."
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
would submit that the issue in the lis stands covered by the
judgment rendered by a Co-ordinate Bench in the case of
MR. M.B. SHIVAKUMAR Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND
OTHERS.1, the Co-ordinate Bench has held as follows:
"Sri Govindaraj K. Joisa, learned counsel for the
petitioner.
W.P.No.30673/2019 disposed on 24.07.2019
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WP No. 23746 of 2023
Sri B.Balakrishna, learned Additional Government
Advocate for the respondents.
2. The matter is taken up for hearing with the
consent of the parties. It is heard finally.
3. Petitioner is before this Court seeking a writ
of mandamus to respondents not to interfere with the
lawful activities carried on by the petitioner. Petitioner is
said to be running a restaurant wherein the customers
are permitted to smoke hooka and respondents are
alleged to have interfered with the business of petitioner.
Hence, petitioner is before this Court for issue of writ of
mandamus to the respondents not to interfere with his
business.
4. Under similar circumstances, Coordinate
Bench of this Court by order dated 27.02.2017 passed in
W.P.No.8140/2017 had considered these aspects and
after taking note of the order passed in
W.P.No.14226/2015 on 03.09.2015 had held as under:
"4. If that be the position, the use of the
instrument known as Hooka cannot be prohibited
as long as such smoking is of Tobacco through the
Hooka and no other prohibited substance is used.
Therefore, if the said Hooka is used for any other
illegal purpose, certainly the law enforcing
authorities including the jurisdictional police would
be entitled to take appropriate action in
accordance with law.
5. Therefore, the only direction that is required
to be issued in the instant petition to the
respondents is not to insist upon the petitioner to
obtain licence for the use of Hooka in the smoking
zone provided by the petitioner in their premises,
if such facility is provided only for smoking
Tobacco through Hooka. However, if any credible
information is received and in the process of
monitoring, if any illegal activity is found including
use of any banned substance, certainly the
respondents or such other law enforcing
authorities would be entitled to take action in
accordance with law."
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In that view of the matter, petitioner would be entitled
for similar relief.
5. At this juncture, learned Government
Advocate would submit that alleged customers of the
petitioner-restaurant under the guise of smoking hooka
are likely to indulge in activities, which are unlawful and
as such, police authorities should be permitted to keep a
check and also smoking having been prohibited in public
places, exclusive area for smoking hooka is to be
earmarked by the petitioner in the business premises,
where the hotel being run and as such, he prays for
additional condition also being imposed on petitioner.
6. Said contention deserves to be accepted for
the simple reason that under the guise of smoking
hooka, customers at the petitioner-restaurant cannot be
allowed to use ganja marijuana, etc. That apart,
smoking of hooka should not cause inconvenience to
other customers since smoking having been prohibited in
public places, an exclusive area with separate enclosure
requires to be reserved for hooka bar. Hence, in addition
to the conditions noted hereinabove an additional
condition requires to be imposed on the petitioner and it
shall be as under:
(a) Petitioner shall earmark exclusively a
separate area/place(s) with appropriate
enclosure in the hotel premise and
necessarily after obtaining licence for the
purpose of hooka smoking and no other
area or portion of premise shall be used by
the customers of the petitioner for smoking
hooka.
(b) Under the guise of inspection, the
respondent-jurisdictional police shall not
harass the petitioner. However, it does not
deter them from inspecting the premise at
periodical intervals with notice to the
petitioner, if necessary.
7. In that view of the matter, instant petition is
disposed of by imposing the conditions in the order dated
03.09.2015 passed in W.P.No.8140/2017 and also the
additional conditions as noted above. Respondents are
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hereby directed not to interfere with the legal activities
of petitioner. However, liberty as indicated hereinabove
would be available to the competent authorities to
proceed in accordance with law, if any illegal activities
are found in the premises of petitioner.
Ordered accordingly."
4. In the light of the issue standing covered by the
judgment rendered by a Co-ordinate Bench and the facts being
undisputed, the petition stands disposed on the same terms.
Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
JUDGE
JY
CT: THK
