HC lifts ban on dance bars across Maharashtra

Mumbai, Apr 12: The Bombay High Court today lifted the ban imposed on dance bars across Maharashtra last year by the state government.

A division bench comprising Justices F I Rebeillo and R S Dalvi, while lifting the ban, stayed its operation for eight weeks to enable the State Government appeal against it in the Supreme Court.

The court observed that while dancing at pubs and discotheques was permissible, banning the performance by bar dancers was ''discriminatory and in violation of the law.'' The court also directed Mumbai police to renew licenses of the dance bar owners, which were cancelled, after eight weeks and to take help of various NGOs and SNDT Women's University to monitor the illegal activities, as alleged by Government in these bars.

The court also asked the police to check whether any minor girls were being employed by the bar owners, as alleged by the State, and if any affected minors were found then they should be rehabilitated.

UNI