Unmarried couple denied entry in Mumbai hotel: RIP progressive mindset
Though there is no law against unmarried couples sharing a hotel room in India, a recent incident speaks an opposite tale. The staff of a Mumbai-based hotel barred an Indian woman and her South American boyfriend from checking-in to their room. Why? They weren't married to each other. The couple, currently vacationing in India, claimed they didn't face this discrimination in other cities.
Had booked months ahead, payment done too: Woman claims
The woman said they had booked a deluxe room in FabHotel Panchvati Residency, an Andheri-based budget hotel, for their two-day stay in Mumbai. They had also paid months in advance in lieu of a confirmed booking. However, when they reached the hotel, they were denied entry to their room. The woman then demanded to speak to customer care of FabHotels, the parent chain.
Partner hotel was following its rule: FabHotels
The conversation went for 50 minutes, and the couple was offered another room in the same hotel chain, but they were finally told the webpage of the Andheri hotel clearly mentioned the couple policy. As settlement, the woman demanded a refund, which the hotel refused, treating it as a 'cancelled booking'. Meanwhile, a FabHotels spokesperson supported the hotel, mentioning it 'was following its rule.'
No prohibitory law, but letting you in is hotel-manager's discretion
"We've checked that there's no law in India prohibiting unmarried couples from booking a hotel room," she said. Yes, there's no law against unmarried couples booking a room, confirms Hotel Association of India, an umbrella organization supervising almost 300 hotels countrywide. However, letting you in is up to the hotel manager's discretion, as many fear 'illicit activities' by the unmarried couples.
Reasons for concern: 'Illicit activities' by unmarried couples, police harassment
Sample this: a Chennai-based businessman, S Nisar, who gives his property on rent, expressed his fear of getting involved unknowingly in a prostitution racket, if his tenants are unmarried! However, not all the reasons are as bizarre as this. The manager of Mumbai-based Hotel Flora Fountain said harassment by local authorities and police is enough for them to deter unmarried couples from booking rooms.
If SC recognizes unmarried couples' rights, why should you bother?
If by 'illicit activities,' they mean sex, then no law in India can put consenting adults in a heterosexual relationship in the dock. A recent SC verdict, wherein it ruled that adult couples can stay together without getting married, reaffirms this. However, in a country that prides itself in cultural conservatism, the aforementioned incidents don't come as a surprise. But not all is lost.
StayUncle, Oyo Rooms are saviors in such cases
There are companies that are providing a platform to unmarried couples to book rooms in hotels without discrimination. StayUncle, with the tagline '"Couples need a room. Not a judgment," was launched in 2015. They have only those hotels enlisted that let couples take rooms on hourly basis. Gurugram-based hotel aggregator OYO Rooms' "relationship mode" shows only those establishments that welcome unmarried couples.
On a personal note: It's not about sex every time
The writer's friend has faced such discrimination, who was asked for a marriage-certificate or permission from her parents. All unmarried couples do not check-in to have sex. What will they do if they have a late-night flight to catch, or want a place to rest?
