The administration of the northern Indian city of Chandigarh released a statement on Wednesday to "correct" media reports which claimed that a new policy would see clubs lose their operating licenses for hosting ‘scantily dressed’ women.
The policy, titled Controlling of Places of Public Amusement 2016, states that clubs can have their operating certificates revoked if it had “any exhibition or advertisement, whether by way of posters or in the newspapers, photographs of scantily dressed women".
Media outlets across India pointed to the lack of definition for the words "scantily dressed" and claimed that rights of citizens were being impeded.
People took to social media to voice their opposition.
“Surprisingly, some of the newspapers and electronic media has misquoted, misinterpreted and distorted the facts related to this policy, especially with the section 6 of the policy,” it said.
“The news articles have distorted the whole policy by picking up words and phrases from different part of the Policy and have tried to create sensational news.
The statement went on to say the administration rejected any accusation that it’s acting as “moral policemen” and curbing the “right of the citizens”.
“The fact therein that nowhere in the policy it has been mentioned that females can’t wear skirts, while going to the places defined under the policy, as stated in the print and electronic media,” the statement said.
“The only motive of framing this policy is to provide conducive atmosphere for the guests visiting such places and to avoid any unlawful activities or any untoward incident.”
