Maharashtra govt may consider bringing in ordinance to stop dance bars
Bhavika Jain | TNN | Updated: Jan 18, 2019, 17:44 ISTHighlights
- "In the state of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, we will not allow our mothers and sisters to be engaged in job that is below their dignity," says state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
- The SC on Thursday had paved the way for the reopening of dance bars in Maharashtra.
File photo of a dance bar in Mumbai. AP
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government may consider bringing in an ordinance to ensure dance bars don't open in the state again. Minister for finance and planning and forests Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the government would study the Supreme Court verdict and if necessary, it would bring in an ordinance to ensure these bars do not start business again. He said that the BJP government was committed to save the cultural and social fabric of the society.
"In the state of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, we will not allow our mothers and sisters to be engaged in job that is below their dignity. Even in 2013, when the then government brought a bill to ban these bars, we had supported it," the senior BJP leader told TOI.
Stating that there can be "regulations" but not "total prohibition", the SC on Thursday paved the way for the reopening of dance bars in Maharashtra by setting aside some provisions of a 2016 law imposing restrictions on their licensing and functioning.
When asked if the ordinance would not violate the orders of the court, the minister said there has been rulings of the judiciary in favour of dance bars in the past well.
"However, all parties had come together to get (former home minister) to formulate a law against dance bars. We will do it this time as well," Mungantiwar said.
The apex court quashed the provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working therein) Act, 2016, like the mandatory installations of CCTV cameras in the dance bars saying they violated privacy.
The bench, however, upheld the provision restricting the timing of operation of dance bars from 6pm to 11.30pm.
"In the state of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, we will not allow our mothers and sisters to be engaged in job that is below their dignity. Even in 2013, when the then government brought a bill to ban these bars, we had supported it," the senior BJP leader told TOI.
Supreme Court paves way for opening of dance bars in Mumbai
The top court said that there cannot be total prohibition on dance bars by imposing unreasonable conditions as no licence has been granted by state since 2005 and no dance bar is running today in the state. The court also set aside the Maharashtra government's ruling for mandatory installation of CCTV camera inside dance bars, saying it "violates" privacy.
Stating that there can be "regulations" but not "total prohibition", the SC on Thursday paved the way for the reopening of dance bars in Maharashtra by setting aside some provisions of a 2016 law imposing restrictions on their licensing and functioning.
When asked if the ordinance would not violate the orders of the court, the minister said there has been rulings of the judiciary in favour of dance bars in the past well.
"However, all parties had come together to get (former home minister) to formulate a law against dance bars. We will do it this time as well," Mungantiwar said.
The apex court quashed the provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working therein) Act, 2016, like the mandatory installations of CCTV cameras in the dance bars saying they violated privacy.
The bench, however, upheld the provision restricting the timing of operation of dance bars from 6pm to 11.30pm.
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE