Chennai: Private clubs like the Tamil Nadu Cricket Assocation, hotels or anyone restricting entry of dhoti-clad men will now face stringent action, including cancellation of licence, a one-year jail term and a penalty of Rs. 25,000 by the provisions of a new law proposed by the state government.
Keeping her assurance to enact such a law during the current Budget session itself, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday introduced in the Assembly a bill seeking to remove the ban on wearing Veshti (dhoti) reflecting Tamil culture or any Indian traditional attire imposed by recreational clubs, aiming to end “sartorial despotism.” The bill — the Tamil Nadu Entry into Public Places (Removal of restriction on dress) Act, 2014 — also covers hotels, theatres, malls, halls, auditorium and stadium.
Apart from removing the restriction of entry of dhoti-clad persons by reason only of the dress, provided the dress shall be worn in a decent manner, the bill has introduced penal provisions like cancellation of licence-permission granted by the government to recreation club, association, trust company or society violating the provisions of the said act. Those found violating would be punished with imprisonment for one year with a fine of Rs. 25,000, Ms Jayalalithaa said.
In the case of company (corporate, firm or association of individuals) the person in-charge of the company shall be liable to be punished accordingly. Also, the government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out all or any of the purposes of this Act.
The bill also restricts recreation club, association, trust, company or society from making any rule, regulation or bye-law, imposing restriction on entry to any person wearing a veshti (dhoti) reflecting Indian culture or any other Indian traditional dress into any public place under its control or management.
On July 16, Ms Jayalalithaa announced that a new bill would be introduced in the ongoing Budget session after it was brought to her government's notice that some clubs denied entry to persons wearing dhoti into public places under their control on the ground that they are not wearing a dress or apparel in keeping with western culture.
The proposed legislation comes in the backdrop of a recent controversy triggered by denial of entry to a dhoti-clad Madras High Court Judge into the TNCA Club here on July 11.
