Pondy Municipality to ban classical dances in hotels

Puducherry, Jul 6 (UNI) The Puducherry Municipality will impose a total ban on the permission granted for classical dances in hotels here.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at the councillors meeting here today.

Speaking on the occasion Municipal Chairperson Sreedevi said classical dances were permitted in hotels under Section 349 of the Municipalities Act, 1973. However, the permission was later withdrawn as cabaret dances were organised under the pretext of classical dances and the hotels moved Madras High Court and the Supreme Court and obtained orders in their favour.

Since, the Municipality was in consultation with the law department, there was a delay in granting permission and in the meantime one of them filed a Contempt of Court case, following which permission was granted.

DMK councillors questioned the ban imposed on classical dances and said the Municipality could monitor whether any irregularities were there. However, the Congress PMC and CPI councillors objected to this and said classical dances could be performed in temples and why should it be in hotels.

Later, the resolution was passed by voice vote.

Dr Sreedevi said the resolution would be forwarded to the government for imposing the ban and the courts would also be infomed.

Another resolution urged the administration to make available Rs 1.20 crore to the Puducherry Municipality, which it would lose following the government's decision to exempt films with Tamil titles from entertainment tax.

The meeting resolved to provide Rs 1,000 to the councillors towards cell phone allowance and Rs 1,000 more to meet office expenses. This would be with retrospective effect from January one this year.

The meeting adopted seven other resolutions.

UNI