Wearing a "veshti" (dhoti) will no longer bar you from entering a club enforcing dress code and an elected representative of the people can join a club or association with restricted membership in Karnataka, if a state government move fructifies.
The state government has drafted an amendment bill to the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960 that aims at removing dress code, imposed by some recreation clubs, on persons wearing veshti (dhoti) reflecting Kannada culture or any Indian traditional dress, to enter into such places and for regulating the membership and fee therein.
According to the draft bill, no membership shall be denied to MP, MLA, MLC, a person with meritorious contribution in sports, ex-servicemen or renowned person and those who have strived for upliftment of society, cause of state and the nation.
It also asks clubs to duly consider representations for allotment of memberships to them.
The amendment bill drafted based on the recommendations of the House committee that looked into the working of the clubs in the state has been uploaded by the Department of Stamps & Registration on its website, for public comments.
This Act may be called the Karnataka Entry into Public Places (Removal of Restriction on Dress and Regulation of membership and Fee) Act, 2015, the draft bill states.
It states that no person, wearing a veshti (dhoti) reflecting Kannada culture or any other lndian traditional dress, shall be denied entry into any public place, by reason only of this dress; also no unreasonable membership fee shall be prescribed, without the approval of the government.
The draft bill notes that if any club, association, trust, company or society, whether incorporated or not, violates the provisions of the Act, the licence or permission shall be cancelled, after having provided an opportunity of being heard to the licencee concerned, in accordance with law.
