SC opens door for Dance Bar in State; Allows Music and Liquor in bar!

In a path-breaking judgment, the Supreme Court declined the total ban on Dance Bar as imposed by the Maharashtra government stating that working women have the right to make an earning so as to avoid exploitation by the male dominant society.

It may be noted in 2005 the Maharashtra government had imposed a ban on dance bars as a result more than 75,000 dancers went out of work and were forced to take on prostitution. Hence making modifications in the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act, 2016) the honorable Court has made certain changes and condemned the ‘Moral Policing’ by the state government.

Headed by two Judge Bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, the judges allowed the business of Dance Bar and has relaxed the stringent conditions to obtain license imposed by the Government thus opening doors to open Dance Bars in Mumbai and other cities.

Among the relaxation made in the Act 2016, the court ordered customers can give tips to ladies performing dance but cannot shower cash over the girls. The court also allowed orchestras and upheld the time of five-and-a-half hours for dance performances (From 6 pm to 11.30 pm). In addition, the court also termed the condition of CCTV in dance performing areas and ban on serving of liquor as ‘weird and ridiculous’.

Hence it has struck down both the conditions. Now, customers can enjoy liquor and watch dancing girls. The court even canceled a provision of the Act that said dance bars should be 1 km away from educational and religious places.