HC directs TN, Pondy to notifiy draft rules on running of Spas

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments to notify draft rules on running of Spas, within three months.

Justice R Mahadevan gave the direction while disposing of a batch of pleas seeking to restrain the police and other authorities from interfering with their businesses, recently.

The judge, however,made it clear that the petitioners, under the guise of carrying on their business activities, shall not indulge in any unlawful or illegal activities opposed to law or public order.

The judge was disposing of petitions from some spas challenging police interfering with their businesses.

The judge said the petitioners, on receipt of notice from the respective police stations, must appear, along with the required documents such as educational and trade certificates.

The petitioners shall not advertise anything, which attracts penal action under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Thecertificates of the people employed at the spas are to be verified by competent authorities.

Spot verification is to be done by police only when concrete material is available, the judge said.

If the spas fail to produce license when demanded or continue to run their activities without license, action shall be taken for their closure immediately, the judge added.