Govt skeptical about ban on hookah parlours

Even in the aftermath of the Kamala Mill Compound fire tragedy, the Home Department is skeptical about banning ‘hookah parlours’ in the city and in state as hookahs at present are not covered under any law of the state. It should be noted that one of the theory doing rounds in the wake of the Kamala Mills Compound fire tragedy was that the fire started from a spark that flew from a hookah.

The Home department is skeptical about enforcing a ban on hookah parlours as it fears that its move may boomerang on it like its earlier move to ban dance bars.

However, sources in the home department stated the government will at the same time work on framing rules that will effectively ban hookah parlours.

Sources said “The hookah is not specifically covered under any provisions of the law and hence there are neither any licenses issued for the same. Hookahs are offered at a charge to customers in hotels and pubs that have designated smoking areas”.

According to sources the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) allows smoking in designated enclosed spaces. Besides this, the Supreme Court had in 2014 lifted a three year ban on allowing hookahs in spaces designated for smoking.

BMC Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had called on Mumbai Commissioner of Police DD Padsalgikar on December 28, 2017 demanding a ban on hookah parlours in the city. Prior to that Mangal Prabhat Lodha, BJP legislator from Malabar Hill had on December 19, 2017 moved a private members bill in the state legislative assembly seeking a ban on hookah parlours in the state.