Manipur Shops and Establishments Act 1972 rendered ineffective
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 09 2014: In gross violation of the provisions under Manipur Shops and Establishments Act 1972, majority of establishments in major markets of Imphal city do not close on Sundays.

During a survey undertaken by this Daily, shops in major markets in Imphal city remained opened on Sunday today, in contravention of the section 10 of the said act.

According to section 10 of Manipur Shops and Establishments Act 1972, the said establishments must close for one day in a week.

The day of closure is also to be displayed at the respective premises of the shops, as per the guidelines.

Manipur Shops and Establishments Act 1972 rendered ineffective

Even though the Chief Inspecting Officer (S&E) at Deputy Commissioner's office at Lamphelpat issued a set of guidelines to the shop owners in the city in September last, the shops and establishments do not follow the same.

During the survey undertaken this morning, all establishments in the city barring a single shop were seen without any display of their holiday schedule for the week.

On being asked about the reason for opening of shops on Sundays, some shopkeepers disclosed that officials of Labour Department take bribes ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 100 from the shops to allow their opening on holidays.

With the increase of customers' demands for opening of shops on Sundays and the shop owners' apprehension of losing customers, the owners themselves run the shops without even a single salesman.

Until recently, shops were off on Sundays, but with unofficial permission from the bribed officials, the shops are opened, they revealed.

As told by a Hardware Store shopkeeper in Imphal, the shops which were earlier closed on Sundays have decided to open the whole week, as a few of them sell on holidays by paying bribes to the Labour Department officials.

One of the salesman of a clothe dealer informed this Daily that officials of Labour Department used to visit the shops on Sundays to collect Rs.50 each.

Based on the revelations made by the shopkeepers in the city, this Daily draws the attention of the government to take actions against the erring officials of Labour Department who are indulging in open bribery in violation of established laws in the state.