NEW DELHI: South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has notified a new licence policy for spa and massage centres that primarily restricts cross-gender massage.
An SDMC official said the policy was earlier approved by the lieutenant governor. “With the notification of the policy, we are allowed to implement it on the ground with immediate effect,” said the senior official.
An association of ayurvedic and spa centres has filed a petition in Delhi High Court against the Delhi government’s guidelines banning the cross-gender massage. “Since the court has not stayed the guidelines, we are allowed to notify as well as implement them with immediate effect. The matter is still sub judice,” said the official.
The guidelines state that the facilities for men and women will be in different sections and massage centres could remain open only between 9am and 9pm. Also, police verification of an owner/spa manager will be mandatory before issuing the licence while there will also be a mandatory provision for production of ID cards of all customers.
All such centres have been directed to strictly adhere to all instructions for grant/renewal of these activities under the jurisdiction of SDMC. “Permission will be granted in areas coming under the category of commercial, local commercial, notified commercial and mixed-land use. New spa/massage centres will not be allowed in residential areas,” said the official.
According to the technical guidelines, the minimum floor area should be 900 square feet and the minimum height should be 9 or 8 feet for airconditioned premises. The minimum area to put up a masseur table must be 50 square feet.
