Panchayat:Repo18/vol2-page0289

*THE KERALA PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT ACT, 1963

(Act 40 of 1963 as amended by Act 21 of 1975 & Act 16 of 2000)

An Act to unify and amend the law relating to the licensing and inspection of places of public resort or entertainment in the State of Kerala.

Preamble.- Whereas it is expedient to unify and amend the law relating to the licensing and inspection of places of public resort or entertainment in the State of Kerala;

Be it enacted in the Fourteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

1. Short title, commencement, extent and application.- (1) This Act may be called the Kerala Places of Public Resort Act, 1963.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

(3) It extends to the whole of the State of Kerala:

Provided that the Government may in public interest exempt any area from the operation of this Act by notification in the Gazette.

(4) Nothing in this Act shall apply to any place licensed for purposes of cinematograph exhibition under the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958 (32 of 1958), or to any temple, church, mosque or other place of public Worship or to any building belonging to or under the control of the State or Central Government).

2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

(a) "building" includes any house, hut, shed or roofed enclosure;

(b) "place of public resort or entertainment” shall mean any place, enclosure, building, tent, booth or other erection whether permanent or temporary, where music, singing, dancing, or any diversion or game or the means of carrying on the same is provided, and to which public are admitted either on payment of money or with the intention that money may be collected from those admitted, otherwise than for bonafide charitable or religious purpose, and shall include a race-course, circus, theatre, music hall, billiard room, bagatelle room, gymnasium and fencing school.

3. No enclosed place or building with area of fifty square metres to be used for public resort or entertainment without a licence.- No enclosed place or building, whether permanent or temporary, having an area of fifty Square metres or upwards, shall be used for public resort or entertainment, unless a licence has been previously obtained in the manner hereinafter provided.

4. Application for licence.- When any person desires to obtain a licence to use any enclosed place or building as a place of public resort or entertainment or to construct any enclosure or building for such purpose, he shall send an application to the authority specified in Section 5, setting forth the place or building, its situation, size and description, the material of which the enclosure or building is made or proposed to be made, whether it is or proposed to be permanent or temporary and the purposes for which it is proposed to be used.