Section 112 Delhi Police Act: Licence and Eating House Registration Penalties
Section 112 deals with failure to obtain or renew a required licence for a place of public entertainment or a certificate of registration for an eating house. It also provides for court-directed closure and penalties for disobeying that closure direction.
What does Section 112 provide?
Section 112 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978 (Act 34 of 1978) contains four related rules governing licensing, registration and enforcement. Its application depends on the licensing or registration requirements imposed under the Act and the applicable regulations.
Explanation of Section 112, sub-section by sub-section
Section 112(1): Failure to obtain or renew permission
A person who fails to obtain the required licence for a place of public entertainment, or a certificate of registration for an eating house, or fails to renew the relevant licence or certificate within the prescribed period, is liable on conviction to a fine of up to Rs. 50.
Section 112(2): Court order to close the premises
The court trying the offence must additionally direct the person keeping the relevant place of public entertainment or eating house to close it until the required licence, fresh licence, registration certificate or fresh registration certificate is obtained. The person must comply with that direction immediately.
Section 112(3): Failure to comply with closure direction
Failure to obey the court's closure direction is separately punishable, on conviction, with imprisonment of up to one month, a fine of up to Rs. 200, or both.
Section 112(4): Police enforcement of court direction
If the closure direction is not obeyed, a police officer authorised by the Commissioner of Police through a written order may take steps and use force reasonably necessary to secure compliance. This power is additional to proceedings under sub-section (3).
Penalty summary
| Provision | Conduct or consequence | Statutory result |
|---|---|---|
| 112(1) | Failure to obtain or renew licence or registration | Fine up to Rs. 50 on conviction |
| 112(2) | Offence involving unlicensed or unregistered premises | Mandatory court direction to close until compliance |
| 112(3) | Non-compliance with court closure direction | Up to one month imprisonment or Rs. 200 fine or both |
| 112(4) | Continuing failure to comply | Reasonable enforcement by duly authorised police officer |
Meaning of key terms
Place of public entertainment: A category of premises governed by the Act's definition and applicable licensing provisions; whether particular premises fall within it depends on their actual use and the statutory wording.
Eating house: A premises category subject to registration under the Act and relevant regulations. The precise statutory definition, exemptions and applicable conditions should be checked before determining whether a business requires registration.
Prescribed period: The period specified by applicable rules or regulations for obtaining or renewing the relevant permission; Section 112 itself does not set a universal renewal deadline.
Practical compliance considerations
- Determine whether the premises require a police licence or eating-house registration under the applicable law.
- Check the current competent authority, applicable regulations, licence conditions and renewal deadlines.
- Maintain valid documentation and submit renewal applications within the prescribed period.
- If a court directs closure, comply immediately and obtain the necessary permission before reopening.
Related provisions and official sources
Section 112 should be read alongside Section 110 (contravention of regulations or licence conditions under Section 28) and Section 111 (licensee liability for certain acts of servants or agents).
For the enacted text and relevant updates, consult the official Delhi Police Act PDF on India Code and the Delhi Police Acts and Rules portal.
Legal information only. Actual licensing obligations may also depend on current rules, notifications and other applicable laws. A proposed amendment bill is not itself an enacted amendment.