At Least 300 Restaurants, Eateries To Operate 24 Hours In Delhi

The Lt. Governor of Delhi VK Saxena has approved the proposal and notification will be issued within seven days.

New Delhi | Updated: 09 October, 2022 5:13 pm IST

At least 300 hotels, restaurants, eateries, online delivery services, shops for medicines and other essential commodities will be allowed to operate round the clock in Delhi. The Lt. Governor of Delhi VK Saxena has approved the proposal and notification will be issued within seven days.

“Starting next week, over 300 establishments ranging from hotels, restaurants, eateries to online delivery services of food, medicines, logistics and other essential commodities, transport and travel services, apart from KPOs and BPOs will be able to operate and carry on with their business on a 24X7 basis in the national capital,” a press note released by the LG office stated.

Sexena has termed the decision as a “Diwali Gift” to the residents, entrepreneurs and traders of Delhi. The decision, providing exemption under Sections 14, 15 and 16 of the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act, 1954, is expected to boost employment generation and promote a conducive business environment in Delhi. The decision will also provide fillip to the much-vaunted ‘night-life’ in the city.

Exemptions under Sections 14, 15 & 16 of the said Act enable commercial establishments to operate on a 24X7 basis, subject to certain conditions that entails welfare of labour and security etc.

LG also took a serious view of inordinate delay on part of the Delhi’s Labour Department in disposing of the applications made by various establishments for these exemptions.

“It may be noted that out of total 346 pending applications – 18 applications of 2016, 26 applications of 2017, 83 applications of 2018, 25 applications of 2019, 4 applications of 2020 and 74 applications of 2021 – had not been processed by the Labour Department on time. These applications were kept pending for no reason even as just two applications – one of 2017 and another of 2021 – were processed and sent for approval, in a display of unexplained discretion on part of the Labour Department, which strongly indicated prevalence of corrupt practices,” the LG alleged in the note.

The statement further said delay in routine applications negatively affects the confidence and sentiments of the business community. The LG also pointed out that it took repeated observations and persuasion from the LG Secretariat for the Labour Department to put in place a Digital Mechanism for receipt of applications.

The LG has strictly advised such applications must be disposed of within a prescribed timeline so that a positive, investor-friendly environment can be created in the national capital.

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