Karnataka House panel moots regulating clubs, dress code removal

Bengaluru: A Karnataka Assembly House Committee has recommended that the government take steps to ensure that legislators and MPs are given membership in elite recreational clubs and that the dress code imposed by them be lifted. 

The Committee was set up to look into the working style of the clubs following a tussle between some of them and the government after some legislators were agitated over being denied membership. Besides, there was also a controversy over the dress code that barred entry of persons wearing traditional attire such as ‘dhoti’ and kurta.

In September 2015, the government had drafted a bill – the Karnataka Entry into Public Places (Removal of Restriction on Dress and Regulation of Membership and Fee) Act 2015 – to bring the clubs under its control. 

The Committee was asked to study the bill and give its observations. 

Committee Chairman N A Haris tabled a report in this regard in the state assembly today. 

Haris said the dress code imposed by the clubs should be removed by bringing in the regulations by finalising the bill. 

Noting that some clubs had banned traditional dresses like ‘dhoti’ and ‘kurta’, he said the committee had recommended that the attire be allowed because “they are the symbols of our tradition and culture.” 

Haris said the committee also suggested regulating club entrance fees. 

“The membership fee shall be determined by the competent authority subject to such rules and guidelines as may be prescribed,” he said. 

Haris said the committee suggested that no club, which had obtained land from the government among other facilities, should deny membership to MLAs, MLCs or MPs in the locality where he is registered as a voter. 

Similarly, no sports persons or ex-servicemen who had received gallantry awards should be denied membership by the clubs. 

Haris said anything contrary to the provisions of the draft bill should be considered null and void. 

The Committee also suggested suspension of license of a club for a period up to 30 days if found guilty of carrying illegal activities. 

“Whoever violates the provisions of section of the draft bill shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both,” it said. 

The government had also asked the clubs to send in their suggestions and objections to the bill, with most of them defending the dress code.