Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday tabled a bill providing for one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs.25,000 for authorities of recreation clubs, associations and hotels refusing entry to people wearing dhoti or traditional Indian dress.
The bill tabled to preserve the culture, custom and heritage of Tamil Nadu was brought in following the refusal of entry to a Madras High Court judge, Justice D. Hariparanthaman, by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) Club.
Jayalalithaa also announced in the assembly that the government would come out with a law preventing clubs and other organisations from refusing entry to those clad in dhoti.
She termed the TNCA Club's act as "sartorial despotism".
According to the bill, if any recreation club, association, trust, company or society violates the provisions of the act, its licence or permission granted by the government shall be cancelled after due notice.
