Bombay HC directs state to review women’s working hours in restaurants and bars

The Bombay High Court has urged women's organisations and restaurant owners to formally request the Maharashtra government to bring uniformity to the laws governing women's working hours. This comes after concerns were raised about the conflicting provisions in two key legislations.

The Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949 restricts women from working beyond 9:30 pm. On the other hand, the Shops and Establishments Act does not impose any such limitation.

In 2008, the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), along with Jayantilal Rathod and others, filed petitions challenging the constitutionality of these laws, particularly the prohibition on women’s working late hours under the Bombay Prohibition Act.

The court acknowledged the discrepancy but noted that no specific instances of the 9:30 pm deadline being enforced were presented. As a result, the court refrained from ruling on the constitutional validity of the laws. However, the court directed the state to consider formal representations for relaxing the Prohibition Act's restrictions on women's working hours.