New Delhi: April 25: The Maharashtra government had suspended the licences of hundreds of bars and hotels that featured women dancing to Bollywood tunes in 2005. More than hundred Bars and Hotels in Mumbai are applying for licences. But, Maharashtra Government is not giving licences to them. Opposing licencing to dance bars on the grounds of obscenity, Maharashtra government has been putting a good amount of conditions for new licencing.
After several appeals against the ban, the Supreme Court asked the state to issue licences from March 15 on condition that certain rules are adhered to. Despite the Supreme Court’s nod, dance bar associations say, the Maharashtra government has made it “impossible” to get licences. Hearing a plea on dance bars in Mumbai, the Supreme Court today observed that it is ‘better to dance than to go to streets for begging or earning livelihood through unacceptable means’.
The Supreme Court today asked the Maharashtra police to verify within one week antecedents of dance bar owners and workers to allow for them to get licences. It has also asked the Maharashtra government to verify whether the conditions which had been approved by it are being adhered to.
But, the Supreme Court rejected some of them, including requiring a live stream to police stations. “Dance is a profession. If it is obscene, then it loses its legal sanctity. However, the government regulatory measures can’t be prohibitory,”the Supreme Court said.
The Maharashtra assembly had on April 12 unanimously passed the Dance Bar Regulation Bill, which has provisions for stringent actions against the violators. The new bill fixes accountability on the owner in case of violation of rules, exploitation of women employees, or in cases of obscenity.
