Bombay HC questions women's working hours

Print Posted Date : 06-Jul-2011 , 10:28:18 am | Posted By CASANSAAR

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Calling for a change in mindset, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday observed that if men are allowed to work late hours then why should there be a restriction on the working hours for women.

"Why is it that men work till 1:30 in the night but women should work only till 9:30 pm? You (Maharashtra government) cannot have control over someone's work and lifestyle. Must change our mindset," a division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and RV More observed while hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the law restraining women from working beyond 9:30 in the night.

Though the petition filed by Womanist Party of India and other organisations specifically takes up the issue of waitresses in bars who are banned from working after 9:30 pm, the law is in fact even applicable to women working in shops and other establishments that are not given special exemptions by the state government.

"It is not a sin to go to a bar and work as waitress. What if a woman wants to have a drink after 9:30 pm? What if the owner of the bar is a woman who wants to sit at the counter till 1:30 am? Will the state government not allow that too," justice Desai questioned.

Arguing for the petitioners, advocate Veena Thadani, told the court, "The rule violates the fundamental right to work of 50 per cent of the population."

The court would continue hearing the matter on Wednesday.

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