West Bengal Govt Seeks To Amend State Excise Act, Remove 'Discriminatory' Provision Which Disallowed Women From Working In Bars

The West Bengal government has tabled a proposal before the state legislative assembly to amend the Bengal Excise Act, 1909, to allow women to work in Liqour 'ON' shops in the state, which is presently forbidden under the excise rules.

An 'ON' shop is one where liquor is sold for consumption on the premises while an 'OFF' shop is one where liquor is sold over the counter.

The proposal to allow women to work in such bars where liquor is served was tabled by Minister Chadrima Bhattacharya, who called the prohibition on women working in bars "discriminatory."

Notably, the Supreme Court in the case of Anuj Garg & Ors v. Hotel Association of India & Ors (2007) 1 SCC 491 had held that the exclusion of women from employment in bars on the grounds of gender is a clear violation of the constitutional prohibition against gender discrimination. 

In other developments around the Excise Act, the state government has also sought to prevent the use of molasses for the manufacturing of illicit liquor and to make it a penal offence.