Cal HC pulls up KMC for allowing trade from cinema hall
Times of India | 20 September 2024
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday reprimanded the KMC for granting a certificate of enlistment to an online applicant without checking the nature of the building. Justice Amrita Sinha was hearing a contempt plea against KMC over running of a business from Paradise cinema.
The cinema building is registered as an assembly building and for a trade to run from its premises, it had to be a mercantile building.The petitioner had raised this point during earlier hearings. Questions were raised by the court on whether the business was run in accordance with law and the KMC was directed to look into this.
On Thursday, the court was informed that the business had a fire licence and certificate of enlistment. It was informed that anyone can apply to get the certificate of enlistment online for which they are required to submit identity proof and proof of ownership/occupancy, amongst others.
“Why will the authority not look into (the nature of the building) while considering an application for the certificate of enlistment?” Justice Sinha asked. She directed KMC to ensure that the business is run in accordance with law. “The same implies that all the permissions/licences/ permission to change the nature of use of the subject premises has to be in place for the business to run in accordance with law. Merely obtaining a fire licence or certificate of enlistment is not at all sufficient for running the business,” she stated.