Much ado about a deadline?
There has been much debate about the deadlines imposed on nightlife in Bangalore. When I came to Bangalore about 3 years ago, the rule wasn’t in place. Somewhere down the line, it came into being – I am not sure who makes these rules – but like good citizens we just follow, we have no say in them!
The few times I stray towards the city area on weekends, it never ceases to amaze me how like a criminal one is made to feel as soon as the clock turns 1130 pm. It’s like the scene out of the tale of Cinderella and her evil stepmother. The policemen come charging in their bikes, tthreatening shop owners, swirling their batons. There’s a mass exodus and a inevitable traffic jam in some areas as everyone closes down together and obviously people want to make use of every last moment.
A few thoughts on this topic:
1) Do establishments have no right to determine what time they want to stay open for customers? Shouldn’t they be allowed to decide their closing timings?
2) Has crime and accidents really reduced because of the 1130 pm deadline? Are there statistics?
3) Doesn’t the law enforcement authority in any city have a responsibility towards its citizens to make sure that they are safe on the streets – ANYTIME during the day or night? Why just 1130 pm?
4) Wouldn’t it be a better idea to have staggered timings, the traffic is evened out, folks can drive peacefully and there will be more people on the streets even at late hours. Now due to the 1130 deadline, some of the roads look like a mini-riot has taken place, with folks rushing out of eateries, pubs, restaurants, and the police in hot pursuit with lathis. It’s not a pretty sight and not one that’s really warranted either.
5) The police claim that it doesn’t have enough people to protect citizens after 1130 pm. Is this a valid excuse? Imagine getting away with this kind of an excuse in a city like… New York or even New Delhi. And why not compare them? Bangalore too is a buzzing metropolis with great places for evening entertainment, so I don’t see why we can’t be protected beyond 1130 pm!
6) Why do the city’s denizens have to feel guilty if they want to eat or drink (even coffee) after 1130 pm?
Is there a better way to go about this? For example, have a few police patrol stations so that people driving and travelling in the night feel safe.
While many argue that people shouldn’t be out at that time at all, I don’t really think it’s anybody’s business what time people want to get home and what time people want to eat and drink. The important thing is that they should have a choice to decide and not feel like criminals for wanting to stay out beyond 1130 pm. I for one, don’t really feel that a deadline is warranted in a city like Bangalore.
I couldn’t agree with you more!
Yes, right on dot.
On the simillar logic..
Why do they allow airports to operate beyond 1130?
Can they afford this from Army/Military saying they can’t protect this country beyond 1130pm till dawn?
Will all MLA’s MP’s accept this that they are not aloowed to move out of their homes after 1130pm citing the smilar reason? Will it be OK to remove their police protection beyond 1130pm?
I am such questions are and will never be answered when asked by you and me…
11:30 time is only a precautionary note. Most of the people visiting these places are a part of floating population of the city.. Why should we exert extra pressure on out already depleted police force in enforcing law and order and their safety of this floating population??? Why do people are more concerned about the rights of the floating population always??? ( now don’t teach me the lessons of patriotism ).
How good is the track record of the restaurants used to be open on the pretext of serving beverages ( non alcoholic ) but always managed to sneak in alcohol. Pls don’t compare NYPD with Bangalore Police. The budgetary allocation of BP is no match for NYPD.
I too cannot see the logic of saying that because Bangalore Police lack the organization to protect citizens, we should have a curfew of 11.30 pm. And believe me, it is WE who are harassed and made to feel like criminals by the police if we venture out later. Instead of being protected, we find that the police are actually turning on us.
No large city can impose such a curfew; it is a remnant of the small-town mentality which will have to go, and soon. For that matter, how many of us are totally safe before 11.30 pm?
When this topci was hot in Dec, I had termed this as admission of failure. It is indeed that. Asking pubs to shut at 11 pm is admitting you cant police drunk drivers in the night. When you say women cant work night shifts, you are admitting you cant make the city safe for them. When you reduce airport-charges for flights taking off after 11 PM, you are saying you cant reduce congestion in the daytime.
In economics jargon, these would be termed as fixing “demand side” of the problem instead of the “supply side” :)
Hope my Post wont be deleted.
My only question to all Sobers is “Name the Genuine Business after 11.30.??” In the environment in which we hav grown in our teens 10-11 max. was the limit to reach Home. One of my friends Parents restricted to be at home by 8 PM. So, this is the story of Most of the Bangalore.
The Shops like Bigbazaar, Reliance Fresh(9PM), and all other shops will shut down by 10 PM max. The Only Shops are PUB and Restourents are opened at Nite. The activites in these Places… no need to explain(Fearing to get deleted). If anybody Needs coffee in midnight The Highways are always opened. Not outskirts within city viz., Madivala. Beyond City the Dhabas are there to serve Lorry Drivers.
Only Section of PPL are Enjoying or willing for Nitelife. Crime rate at nite is High. Chk any Police Records. Is it necessary for Pubs and Hotels to opn Beyond 11.30??? RJ Fiona was attacked near popular pub in the heart of the city in Mid night… There are lot of examples.
FYI, there are many Pubs and hotels opned till early morning.
I can’t believe this discussion is moving into “floating population” territory. Your city is growing up Karthik B. It’s time you do too.
@Naren: I don’t think the comments are moderated. I suppose they trust our own good/wise judgment (so should the lawmakers)
I dont know whether the current deadline of 11:30 has improved the law and order situation. I rememebr when there was no deadline I felt much safer in my return drive after late night pubbing. Though there is no data that increase in the deadline would necessarily mean crime rate going high, it can be controlled the way it is being done in Mumbai and Delhi.
The very concept of Bangalore not hapy with 11:30 deadline is flawed one.Which Bangalore are they representing??? Pls let me know who should have the bigger say in this issue the long term tax paying Bangalore population ( road tax,property tax fuel cess ) or the ” Floating Population” ??? which is in Blr only to dring and make merry??
I dont agree that we are made to feel like criminals after 11:30 if the police stops you for a check whats wrong with that. Are they not doing a good job in removing the drunk drivers from the road and making it a more safer place to drive?? Yup Cofee can always be consumed on highways my favourite hang out is the CCD on Mysore road. there is a new one opened near Maddur too.
Pls let me know how be keeping pubs and bars open beyond 11:30 will make city ” GROWN UP” ????
The argument that the police can’t adequately enforce the law at night is nothing more than a poorly disguised and transparent excuse. This is not about police protection. It’s about a puritanical minority attempting to impose their own standards of behavior on people they disapprove of. This is not about law, it’s about intolerance of people with different moral beliefs. Just like banning lottery and arrack sales, it’s not about crime. There is no evidence than banning them will reduce crime, in fact just the obvious – by criminalizing popular behavior it will only increase crime, make criminals out of ordinary people, and reduce respect for the law.
Legislating personal morality has no place in a modern, open, pluralistic democracy. Instead it’s a hallmark of old-fashioned, repressive, intolerant authoritarian systems that cannot tolerate dissenting points of view.
If children are awake all the time, when will the grownups have privacy ? If praja are awake all night and needed to be taken care of, when will the netas find time for themselves ?
You put that across very well Charles – criminalizing popular behavior makes criminals out of ordinary people and may I add, becomes a source of corruption for some (cops?).
Hey people der’s no curfew in bengalooru, it only a ‘resonable restriction’. Nobody will stop file FIR if you travel at night and belive me if police aren’t hard on people they cant find ‘evil’ in general population. there are so many 24 hrs coffe bar’s and diners present in town for night life IN b’LORE, it for people sake this law’s are made not for police to be free or as an excuse. people need to governed for better results.
Legislating personal morality has no place in a modern, open, pluralistic democracy.
Spoken like a true ignorant foreigner, Charles.
India has an age-old tradition of elders knowing better than the youngsters and guiding them with their wisdom. Who do these rich kids of today think they are, burning money at pubs and enjoying themselves instead of saving money like our previous generations used to do? In the process, they are ruining their health and corrupting the other young people with their hedonistic ways.
We do not want your Western ways here. We are quite happy letting our lives be governed by people who know better than us. Our elders did not stay up having fun past midnight. There is no reason why we need to be any different. In a democracy, the will of the majority has to prevail. Please don’t spout nonsense about people’s individual rights. It is not part of our culture.
@ Charles:
I think I need to apologise for Just Some Dude’s rudeness. We aren’t all like that, I hope you know that :)