107 pubs in Bengaluru get notice for illegally hosting live music performances

Bengaluru police issued show cause notices to 107 restaurants and pubs in Bengaluru for allegedly hosting live performances illegally.

Police officials stated that the establishments sought permission for live performances but they were rejected. "Yet, they continued to host live performances and run discotheques. Managements can run their restaurants, serve customers, and play recorded music as long as they adhere to decibel limits. However, discotheques and live performances are prohibited without prior permission,” Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner (Crime), told The Hindu. 

As per the Licensing and Controlling Places of Public Entertainment (Bangalore City) Order, 2005, establishments should get licenses for entertainment programmes through the Bengaluru Commissioner's office. The Supreme Court upheld this order in January 2018.

According to Bengaluru police, music - recorded or live - at any establishment would be public entertainment. Residents of several neighbourhoods also petitioned the Karnataka High Court over the noise levels around pubs located in residential areas, particularly in Indiranagar. The High Court in June pulled up the Karnataka police for its 'casual approach' to measuring noise levels around pubs. 

“Sixty per cent of these pubs are located on the MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Indiranagar and Koramangala and were causing a nuisance. Now that we have served notices, we have instructed the jurisdictional DCPs and inspectors to keep a check and notify about violations," Sandeep said speaking to Deccan Herald. 

According to officials, most buildings in which these pubs and restaurants are housed violated regulations including a lack of NOC on fire safety, occupancy certificate etc. This effectively prevented these establishments from acquiring a permit to play live music performances.