PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) board on Wednesday unanimously passed a proposal recommending the closure of nightclubs, pubs and hookah bars in the city, citing concerns over law and order and the impact on youth.
The proposal was raised by Ward 95 Nathanpur councillor, Ravindra Gusain during the board meeting, where he flagged what he described as a deterioration in the city’s law and order situation, particularly in key urban stretches. He stated that Dehradun, traditionally known as a quiet education hub, has seen a rise in violent incidents in areas such as Rajpur Road, Chakrata Road, GMS Road, Saharanpur Road and Raipur Road.
Gusain argued that the increasing number of nightlife establishments operating late into the night has contributed to disturbances in these areas. He alleged that some such venues are linked to possible circulation of illegal intoxicants, raising concerns about their impact on young people and the city’s overall image.
Last month, a retired Army Brigadier Mukesh Joshi was shot dead during his morning walk on Mussoorie Road after being caught in a crossfire between two rival groups, a dispute that had its origins at the nightclub ‘Gen-Z’ that night.
More recently, a late-night police raid on a Rajpur Road pub operating beyond the mandated 12 PM deadline took a controversial turn when a senior IPS officer was allegedly found at the venue, leading to claims of delayed enforcement action.
Gusain also pointed out that Dehradun hosts several prominent institutions, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Forest Research Institute (FRI), The Doon School, Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), ONGC and LBSNAA in Mussoorie and said that maintaining the city’s reputation as an education centre is important.
Following the discussion, the councillors across parties backed the proposal, which was passed unanimously by the board. The municipal commissioner, Namami Bansal said that the corporation would now prepare a formal resolution based on the proposal and forward it to the district administration and the Uttarakhand government for consideration.
Senior civic body officers said that the final decision on any regulatory or enforcement action will rest with the state government and relevant authorities.
