In a move to monitor the use of drug abuse in parties, the Kochi city police have put in place new regulations on such events. As per the new regulations, the organisers of DJ parties will have to take permission 15 days prior to the event from the office of the city police commissioner.

The decision was taken by the police in the wake of allegations of drug abuse at DJ parties. The police cited a lack of a proper record of parties taking place in the city as the main reason for monitoring difficulties and said that the new regulations may help them keep track.

“Till a few years ago, there used to be only a few such parties in the city. But now, DJ parties are continuously held. Through this regulation, we aim to give a sense of feeling among the people that police is vigilant over all the parties that are taking place in the city and that no illegal activities can take place,” a police official told TNM.

Permission has to be obtained for DJ parties in clubs, hotels, in public places or even in private locations. Information on the category of people – youngsters, family, children – and list of artists who will be performing in the event will have to be submitted to the office of city police commissioner. The event can only be held once a clearance certificate is received from the police.

Action will be taken against the organiser and the venue’s owner if DJ parties are held without complying with the norms.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have said that it may be a good move to curb drug abuse, there are concerns as well. “Now the party scene has changed in Kochi, it is not only the clubs and hotels throwing DJ parties. Families who opt for DJ parties during family events have also increased. It will be difficult to get permission for each of these parties. One would have to be assigned for the job to get permissions alone,” disco jockey in Kochi Nobe Jose told TNM. He added that it would be if the police excluded private events from this regulation.

Though there are allegations of drug abuse in such parties, no drug seizures have been reported recently in Kochi. Last year, the city police arrested drug peddlers who supply to partygoers in Kochi. In 2015, six people including a Russian DJ was arrested at a rave party in Kochi.