The Bombay High Court on Tuesday pulled up the state government over the restraint on waitresses working at bars and restaurants at night,asking how else women are supposed to exercise their right to livelihood. The court was shocked to hear that waitresses were required to carry a form with their name and details all the time. Where are we living? In Nazi Germany? asked Justice F I Rebello,part of a division Bench with Justice Amjed Sayed. The counsel for the government,however,clarified that both men and women in such establishments are required to carry the form. The court was hearing a petition by Womanist Organisation of India and Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association,challenging the 9.30 pm deadline for waitresses under the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act. The state governments contention was that women are exploited in bars. You mean to say men who dont drink dont exploit? the Bench said. Do you think women are not exploited at other places? If they are working in a house,washing your clothes. are they not exploited? Justice Rebello asked. If you think drinking is bad,then close everything down, the Bench said. Stop those subsidies you gave recently and convert all potable alcohol into industrial alcohol, it said. Sometimes we wonder why women are treated like some commodity. What kind of mentality is this? the judges said. The state contended that these women are uneducated and the bars are like pick-up joints. Then close everything down, the court said.
