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After Pune’s Kayani Bakery, Bagban Restaurant opens doors post a 2-month break
The restaurant was shut for two months following verbal orders from PCB
Bagban Restaurant on East Street in Camp area was reopened on Wednesday following almost a two-month closure along with Kayani Bakery and Kwality Restaurant owing to the verbal orders by the Pune Cantonment Board on October 9.
Kayani Bakery, famed for its Shrewsbury biscuits, had re-opened for business almost two weeks ago, while Kwality Restaurant continues to remain shut. In October, president of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB), Brigadier Rajiv Sethi had verbally ordered for the shutdown of the three restaurants following an inspection by PCB chief executive officer DN Yadav and Defence Estates Officer (Pune circle) Rajendra Pawar. The inspection had then revealed that these eateries were conducting business without a trade licence since 2006.
Stating that despite the reopening, the restaurant continues to operate without a trade license, PCB CEO Yadav told Hindustan Times, “I got to know of it on Thursday. But, the truth does not change that Bagban is running their business on a residential plot and not commercial, like many more such eateries in the area. We had verbally asked them to stop operation as they did not have the licence to do so, but no permission was taken by the owner, before re-opening the restaurant. Also, now the issue of property is not under my jurisdiction, but under the management of defence estates office.”
As the case of Kayani Bakery rolled into trial, the city civil court questioned PCB’s authority and right to grant and reject trade licence plea.
"At this juncture, the only question before the court is whether the plaint is disclosing the cause of action or the cause of action shown is illusory. After having scrutinised the averments, it can be inferred that the plaint is disclosing the cause of action and it is specifically stated therein,” the court stated in the Kayani case.
Despite several attempts, Bagban Restaurant’s owner Afzal Bagwan refused to comment upon the matter.
