Table of Contents
- What were the rules before and after?
- Essential Points to be kept in mind
- Is it legal for couples to stay in OYO rooms?
- In what circumstances can the police authorities arrest the couple?
- What should I do if I get arrested even without committing any crime?
- Can I get compensation if I get arrested on false charges?
- Some major policies of OYO rooms
Ritesh Agarwal wouldn’t have wondered in the year 2013 that his venture, On Your Own, known as OYO, will be a huge success. OYO has now become one of the fastest-growing chains of hotels and living spaces. They provide a comfortable stay with quality rooms across India. These budgeted hotels came into the news recently for their change in rules and regulations for unmarried couples.
What were the Oyo Rooms rules before and after?
The new rules came into effect in the year 2021. Many couples are satisfied with these sets of new regulations, while some are against the disclosure of their identities publicly. What are these new rules? Let’s have a look!
| Rule | Before | After |
| 1) Documents that can be used as identity proof | Earlier, only an Aadhaar card was mandatory as the identity proof for check-in in hotels. | Now, besides the PAN card, other means of proof of identity will be accepted. |
| 2) Food booking changes | Previously, it was mandatory to book the food and have it at the hotel premises. | In the improvised rules, the couple may or may not have the food at the hotel premises. There is an option where the couple needs to check the box on whether they want the food or not. |
| 3) Correct details of the girl filled in the register | The couple used to ignore filling in the details of the girl to hide their identity in the public domain. The hotel workers used to assist with the same. | It is now mandatory to fill in the details of both the boy and the girl correctly. If one has to avoid unnecessary chaos and confusion from the police authorities afterward, he and she must fill in the details correctly. |
| 4) Booking of the hotel capital/collection | Earlier, the couple was not able to book the hotel’s capital. | The boy aged 21 and above, and the girl aged 18 and above, can now book the hotel’s capital after showing the valid ID proof. |
Essential Points to be kept in mind before going to Oyo Rooms
Both the boy and girl must fill in the details correctly in the register of the hotel. Do not get happy if the staff allows hiding the identity of the girl. Instead, fill the entries correctly to avoid unnecessary intervention from the police authorities. Later, police will directly question the couple and not the hotel staff.
If the hotel staff is not ready to accept other documents like identity proof, you can lodge a complaint against them on the OYO complaint portal. Besides PAN card, now the Aadhaar Card, Driving License, Voter ID or any Government Service Card is valid for the OYO rooms bookings.
OYO has launched an exquisite collection of hotels whose properties are now ready to be booked by couples. The brand collections have been termed Edition O, Capital O, Townhouse and Silver Key to bifurcate various properties. One can find all the details of these properties while booking the hotel and see their collections.
Valid ID proof of the boy, aged 21 or above, and the girl, who must be aged 18 or above, are necessary to book these collections. If the two fail to show their IDs, the authorities may question them in the future.
Tip: One must book a good hotel, i.e. a 3-star or a 4-star, for extra safety.
- One must confirm the details regarding the floor and room are shown in the image while booking from the OYO rooms website. Sometimes the photo shown can be misleading. Therefore, to avoid wastage of time, thorough checking has to be done of the details and conditions of the rooms beforehand.
If you have called the hotel staff, do mention the correct information in the OYO forms (if you get any) as informed by the staff member with their name and details. Transparency is the key solution to every problem!
Is it legal for couples to stay in OYO rooms?
According to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, it is now legal for couples to stay in hotels. Article 21, Protection of Life and Personal Liberty states that- ‘No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law.’ Thus, Article 21 ensures the security of two rights- a) Right to Life, and b) Right to personal liberty.
One point to be kept in mind by everyone is that, once you have booked a hotel or a property by paying for it, no person can interfere in your matter. After you have paid the rent, the public property now becomes private.
In what circumstances can the police authorities arrest the couple?
According to section 42 of CRPC (Code of Criminal Procedure), the police authorities can arrest anyone if they do not reveal their identities or try hiding their original identity. No matter what, the couple must tell their correct identity to avoid getting arrested.
The police can also arrest the couple under section 151 of the CRPC. It states- ‘A police officer knowing of a design to commit any cognizable offence may arrest, without orders from a Magistrate and a warrant, the person so designing, if it appears to such officer that the commission of the offence cannot be otherwise prevented.’
What should I do if I get arrested even without committing any crime?
Step 1:- The couple should fill in the correct identities at the registration counter of the hotel.
Step2:- Take the proof of the entries that you have made.
Step 3:- Under section 166 and 166 A of the IPC (Indian Penal Code), the couple can file a complaint against the police authorities if they unnecessarily arrest or enforce false charges on the couple.
Can I get compensation if I get arrested on false charges?
Yes, you can! If the couple gets arrested without any valid proof and the police authorities have wasted their time, they are eligible for compensation by the police staff.
The couple needs to file a Habeas Corpus (meaning, to have a body of) writ under Article 226 in High Court or Article 32 in Supreme Court. Under this writ, the Court directs the detained person to be brought before it for further examination of his detention. If the judgment is favorable to the person, then he is eligible for compensation.
Some major policies of OYO rooms
In any case, the booking must be made by a major. If there are any suspicions, the hotel authorities might cancel the bookings without providing a refund.
After reaching the hotel, if you face any trouble, then contact the OYO authorities immediately. OYO will either arrange a different accommodation in the same or alternate hotel or will compensate you if you do not accept the alternate accommodation.
The standard check-in and check-out timings are 12 noon and 11 a.m., respectively. Unless mentioned in the booking voucher, one is eligible for extra charges according to the OYO policies. Extensions can be made per the current rates and not at the original booking rate.
Check beforehand which hotels accept unmarried couples and which do not. OYO is not responsible for such confusion and will cancel the booking without giving a refund.
In case of an emergency after check-in, one can press the SOS button provided in the OYO app.
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, illegal drugs and substances are not allowed inside the hotel premises. If the hotel authorities find any evidence, they can report it to the police immediately.
One can contact the helpline number 9313931393, or mail at https://help.oyorooms.com for any grievances.
If you are looking for a solution to Oyo rooms complaints then file a complaint at Voxya, India’s trusted platform for consumer complaints online. It helps consumers to get a replacement, refund, and compensation as soon as possible.