Date:17/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121760521200.htm

Karnataka

Guests are under watch

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The police have asked all hotels, lodges, serviced apartments and paying guest accommodations to obtain a licence under the Karnataka Police Act by February 1.

And from January 1, it will be mandatory for all owners of residential buildings to apprise the police about their tenants.

Similarly, colleges will be asked to submit quarterly reports about their foreign students.

Commissioner of Police Shankar M. Bidari told presspersons here on Tuesday that the licence rule applied to all hotels, lodges, serviced apartments and those who host more than five paying guests.

The city police’s move comes with the decision to make owners and managements to be more security conscious.

Hotels, lodges, service apartments and paying guest accommodations come under the definition of ‘places of public amusement.’

They have been asked to obtain licence under Section 31 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963.

Forms will be made available in police stations, Mr. Bidari said.