HC stays Haryana order on withdrawal of NOC to two Gurugram nightclubs

A day after the police in Gurugram withdrew the no-objection certificates (NOCs) issued to 10 out of 15 nightclubs on MG Road, the Punjab and Haryana high court, on Monday, stayed the Gurugram commissioner’s order for two clubs— Empire and Queen’s Club.

The order was passed by the bench of justice RN Raina on a petition filed by the management of the two businesses.

“The court has stayed the Gurugram police commissioner’s order in respect of these two bars and sought response by August 23 from the respondents,” said advocate Mohinder Nain, a lawyer for one of the petitioners.

The development comes a day after the top cop issued directives to “ensure law and order” on the Mall Mile, which according to residents has become a hub for “sex trade”, an allegation refuted by the bar owners. Responding to the development, leaders and RWAs said they would fight until they win.

On Monday, senior advocate Chetan Mittal told the court that there were complaints against nearby bars and restaurants and man-handling of guests by bouncers of these clubs, but there was no complaint against the petitioners.

The court was also told that in the wake of FIRs filed against certain bars on MG Road, and at the behest of the business rivals who have links with politicians, the police was clamping down on even those bars that were in the clear.

Mittal further apprised the court that the order to revoke NoCs was issued without any show-cause notice. “It has caused serious loss of business to the petitioners for which the police department is responsible. They have paid ₹10 lakh as license fee to run the bar till 1am and the said order is causing financial loss to them,” he said.

Responding to the stay, Viajypal Yadav, president of the MG Road bar owners’ association, said, “We have invested crores of rupees and will not let our money go waste. We will fight against the police order even if it requires us to approach the Supreme Court.”

Echoing Yadav’s sentiment, Renu Garg, director of the ION club, said, “We will fight against injustice and cannot let police force us to shut our businesses.”

However, the stay has not been received well by RWAs and political leaders.

The residents said they have organized a meeting on Tuesday and will consult lawyers before deciding if they need to file an application against the stay. “This is a long battle and we will fight until we win,” DLF Phase-2 RWA general secretary Gaurav Wahi said.

Supporting the residents, forest and PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh said, “If the residents approach the Supreme Court, I am with them and will support them.”

Meanwhile, Gurugram commissioner of police KK Rao said they will review the once they receive it. “We have not received the court order yet,” he said.

Seven people, including two nightclub owners, were arrested on July 4 from Sahara Mall and MGF Mall for their alleged involvement in sex trade after a midnight raid. Four more, including two nightclub dancers, were arrested on July 19.