Iconic bakery to reopen for business from today over a month after being ordered to shut for operating sans a trade licence since 2006
Over a month after it downed shutters, the Kayani Bakery is back in business from today. The iconic bakery, famous for its Shrewsbury biscuits, had been forced to shut down on the orders of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB), for conducting business since 2006 without a proper trade licence.
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The bakery put up a billboard thanking its loyal patrons on Thursday
Kayani along with two other adjacent eateries, Kwality and Bagban, was ordered to close by PCB president brigadier Rajiv Sethi, as he had conducted an investigation with other officials and found that the establishments had been running their businesses illegally, thus violating the lease agreement.
Based on the order, it shut shop on October 15. mid-day had reported about the bakery defying an earlier order to close on October 12, in 'Your Shrewsbury on sale for now'.
Moved a petition
The bakery had moved a petition against PCB through its lawyer Dara Irani before the civil court, praying for being granted an interim injunction order, restraining the PCB from obstructing them to conduct business and allegedly forcefully asking them to shut down.
On November 17, joint civil judge (senior division), Pune, Jaydip J Mohite gave a verdict in favour of the bakery, based on which PCB moved an appeal before the additional sessions judge to bring a temporary stay on the bakery.
But the judge has refused to act against the previous judgment. The next hearing of the case will be on December 8.
Judge Mohite had said in the order, "The Board is restrained by an order of interim injunction from obstructing the business of the bakery or forcefully closing it till the decision on its application for issuance of trade licence. The defence shall decide an application of the plaintiff for issuance of trade licence within parameters of subsection 2 of section 277 of the Cantonment Act 2006."
Effect of the closure
Kayani's lawyer Dara Irani said, "The firm had been running its business for the last 61 years from the premises, granted on a perpetual lease on June 17, 1930, in favour of his predecessor. It also gained a reputation and goodwill in its business. In such a situation, the refusal of an injunction would certainly cause irreparable loss to the bakery. Needless to say, PCB is bound to decide the application within the parameters of the Cantonment Act."
PCB moves appeal
Irani further said, "The trade licence was valid on December 18, 2006, when the Cantonment Act, 2006, came into force. The shutdown was ordered verbally without issuing any notice or an opportunity for a hearing," adding that the closure had affected the firm's reputation, business and livelihood of its partners and 40-odd employees.
The PCB on Tuesday moved an appeal before the sessions judge for praying and for bringing out a temporary stay on the order passed by judge Mohite. On Thursday, a notice was served to the bakery and the arguments were continued on Friday.
Following the arguments, the bakery reopened around 6 pm yesterday and its employees began cleaning it, before it opens for business today. Irani said, "Based on judge Mohite's order, the bakery will be reopened on Saturday for the customers. It is a victory for the customers, and justice."
The bakery didn't forget to thank its patrons for their support. On Thursday, hoardings were placed near the shop, saying, "Thank you. For the all the support from Pune, India and all over the world. Your voices were heard... Your love has overcome."
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