Police Licensing Done Away With For Hotel and Restaurant Business In Delhi

New Delhi, July 11 (KNN) In a landmark regulatory reform aimed at streamlining business processes in the capital, the Delhi Police will no longer be responsible for issuing licenses or no-objection certificates to establishments such as hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, discotheques, amusement parks, swimming pools, video game parlours, and auditoriums. 

The move marks the end of a 45-year-old licensing mandate and is seen as a significant step toward reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing ease of doing business.

The decision, formalised through an order issued on June 19 and approved by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, has been widely welcomed by industry stakeholders and policy experts. 

Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa, praised the reform as a long-overdue simplification of regulatory procedures. 

“Less regulation means more growth, more jobs, and a more vibrant city economy,” he wrote on social media platform X. 

He further urged other states to replicate similar reforms, calling it essential for sustaining India’s economic momentum.

Originally conferred upon Delhi Police in 1980, these licensing functions were often criticised for duplicating roles already handled by civic authorities. 

Business owners frequently cited the system as cumbersome and redundant, leading to delays and increased compliance burdens.

While the reform eliminates the need for police-issued clearances, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta clarified that establishments must still secure necessary approvals from civic agencies including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and the Delhi Cantonment Board.

(KNN Bureau)