SC verdict on dance bars: Maharashtra govt contemplating legislation

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the state government was contemplating bringing in a legislation over the dance bar issue, asserting that obscenity cannot be permitted at these places.

Fadnavis said this hours after the Supreme Court rejected certain conditions like providing live CCTV footage to police on performances in dance bars and asked the Maharashtra government to grant licences to owners within 10 days after they comply with modified guidelines.

The chief minister also said the state government will approach the apex court with an alternative.

“State cannot permit obscenity it has seen in the past in dance bars. We will approach the Supreme Court with an alternative,” he said, adding that the Maharashtra government is also contemplating a suitable legislation in the state Legislature over the issue.

“Government pleader in the SC has informed that the Supreme Court has accepted all conditions imposed by Maharashtra government on dance bars with a few modifications.  But the SC has disallowed the condition of live monitoring through CCTV and has asked to enforce surveillance at the entrance only,” Fadnavis said.

However, the apex court’s decision to grant licenses to dance bar owners within 10 days was welcomed by Indian Hotel And Restaurant Association (AHAR), while Opposition parties alleged a nexus between the government and bar owners.

“We welcome the SC’s verdict. We always knew the court will do justice to our demands and we are thankful to the SC that it has enabled bar dancers to feed their children respectfully and have a life of their own,” AHAR president Adarsh Shetty told PTI.

“More than ourselves, we are happy for the dancers that they can now work and earn for their children and families,” he said.

Shetty asserted that dance bar association members want to make the profession transparent, and expressed hope that the girls who resorted to prostitution after being out of profession would now be able to have a dignified life.

“There is nothing like prostitution associated with the working of dance bars. When these girls were out of profession, they were forced to resort to prostitution. We hope the government helps the girls come back and live a dignified life in society,” he said.