MCDs implement a ban on cross-gender massage, spa policy on hold

The Association of Wellness Ayurveda and Spa called the move regressive and unreasonable as men and women work together in different workplaces. Over the past few months, the Delhi government and the municipal corporations have come out with stringent guidelines for spas which have the requirement that massage therapists and clients be of the same gender, a move which spa owners and workers termed restrictive and discriminatory.

The civic body officials estimate that there are between 2000 and 2400 spas and massage parlors across the city, of which only half have licenses while others operate illegally. The Association of Wellness Ayurveda and Spa filed a petition on the Delhi High Court against the guidelines. The government of Delhi said to the court that the guidelines are to be notified yet and were not being enforced at present. It said that no action based on the guidelines will be taken till they are notified following the law and the clauses are incorporated in the Health Trade Licenses issued to the spas under Section 417 under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.