Mumbai: The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that it has constituted a 12-member committee to draft guidelines for regulating spa and massage centres across the state.
The guidelines will address key aspects such as licensing procedures, operational standards, and the regulation of cross-gender massages. The objective is to ensure lawful operations while safeguarding the rights and dignity of workers in the industry.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale has asked the committee to consult relevant stakeholders before finalizing the guidelines. It has asked to place the guidelines before the court by June 10.
The committee, formed on March 21, is chaired by the additional chief secretary of the Home Department and comprises senior officials from the Urban Development, Rural Development, Public Health, Medical Education, Law and Justice, and AYUSH departments. Health commissioners, police officials, and directors of medical education are also part of the panel.
The committee’s mandate includes developing a licensing policy, setting operational standards, and addressing concerns such as cross-gender massages. It is expected to consider existing regulations, including guidelines issued by the Delhi government and a 2019 Madras High Court ruling on spa and massage centres.
The court’s directive came in response to a petition filed by 11 massage therapists, who alleged police harassment and unwarranted raids on their businesses under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The petitioners contended that these actions violated their rights to livelihood and dignity, urging the court to implement clear regulatory guidelines to prevent police interference.
In January, State Advocate General Birendra Saraf had assured the court that the state had no objections to cross-gender massages and would soon introduce regulations to govern such practices. Following this assurance, the court instructed the state to frame guidelines, leading to the formation of the committee.
A government resolution (GR) issued in compliance with the high court’s directives outlined the committee’s responsibilities which include drafting guidelines for licensing and operation of spa and massage centres; formulating a policy for granting necessary approvals; and addressing concerns related to intersex persons in the context of massage services, considering Delhi’s guidelines (which have been stayed by the Delhi High Court). The committee has also to factor in the 2019 Madras High Court judgment on spa regulations.
