R. GANESH PRABHU Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr.R.Ganesh Babu, petitioner, a practising Advocate has filed Writ Petition No.5361 of 2018 to direct the respondent Police, to refrain from interfering with the timings of the hotels/restaurants, without following due process of law.

(2.) President of the Chennai Hotel Association, has filed Writ Petition No.3937 of 2019, to quash the order of the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue and Finance), Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai, third respondent, made in R.D.C.No.LB/5551/2018, dated 9/11/2018, and consequently, to forbear the respondents, from interfering with the working hours of the members of the petitioner Association, their Eateries, Hotels, Restaurant.

(3.) In the affidavit filed in support of W.P.No.5361 of 2018, it is stated that Police officials are interfering with the timings of hotels and restaurants in the City, because of which people are not able to have food in night. It is stated that, there is no law which permits the Police authorities to close down the restaurants by fixing a time limit. It is further stated in the petition that in the month of July 2015, the petitioner went to a restaurant, by name, Hot and Chat Fast Food, about 10.00 p.m., at Door No.22/61 Thambaiah Road, West Mambalam, Chennai 600 033. The hotelier refused to give him food and told him that the Police authorities from R-3 Police Station, Ashok Nagar, have given a Written Order not to keep the restaurant open after 10.00 p.m. The petitioner has given representations to the authorities that caterers and owners of restaurants cannot be directed to close the restaurants, fixing a time limit, but no action has been taken on his representation.