Already cleared way for reopening Spas: Centre to Delhi HC

New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that it has "no objection" with the reopening of spas, which had been closed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The submissions were made before a single-judge bench of the high court presided by Justice Navin Chawla while it was hearing two petitions filed by Association of Wellness Ayurveda and Spa and other pleas by several persons, who run spas.

During the course of the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Centre apprised the bench that vide order dated November 18, it has cleared the ways of Spas to be reopened.

"We have already examined the issue and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) do not have any objection to opening up of Spas subject to the conditions that the employees and clients of Spas maintain requisite physical distancing of 6 feet in the premises, avoid overcrowding, use masks, maintain hand hygiene, and sanitize the equipment regularly," the counsel submitted.

Advocate H.D. Thanvi representing the petitioner prayed before the court to allow the functioning of Spas in the national capital citing Centre's notification.

The counsel appearing for the Delhi government sought time to seek instructions on the Centre's notification which clears the way for re-opening of Spas.

Following which the court has now posted the matter for further hearing on December 4.

The two petitioners in their plea said that they are one of those who like any other human in different parts of the world are financially hit by the ongoing pandemic and the lockdown that froze the Indian economy in the March 2020.

It also said that while Metro, local vegetable sellers by the streets, salons, restaurants, bars are functioning in Delhi and on the contrary spas are also functioning in states other than the national capital.