The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the state government to explain under what rules or provision of law, hotels have been directed (by the authorities) to collect the names and photo-identity proofs of those who want to book a room.
A division bench consisting of Justice VM Kanade and Justice Dr Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, while appreciating the police efforts to maintain law and order in the area, said, “Obviously, it is a laudable intention. There is no doubt that the police's intention was to regulate and find out if there was any prostitution racket. But, at the same time, care should be taken to ensure that innocent people are not harassed and their privacy is not invaded. Police cannot take a moral stand.”
