Mumbai Dance bar: ‘No CCTV cameras in dance bars,’ directs SC partially quashing Maha govt’s stringent norms for licences

Hearing the pleas of the hotel and restaurant owners challenging the Maharashtra governement’s new rules on the functioning of the dance bars and licenses, the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the ‘stringent conditions’ for running dance bars and upheld the time of five and half hours for dance performances.

The Supreme Court bench relaxed the dance bar owners by allowing to run the bar till 11: 30 pm and also applied few conditions on the same. The apex court allowed orchestra, tips can be given but showering of cash and coins is not allowed inside bars.

The Supreme Court said, "there cannot be total prohibition on dance bars. No licence has been granted by Maharashtra since 2005. There may be regulations but that should not amount to total prohibition."

Squashing the Maharashtra government’s conditon, the top court said no CCTV cameras needed to be put in the dance bars of Mumbai and said people of good character as 'vague’ will be eligible for the licences to run the dance bars.

Supreme Court also quashed a rule that segregated dancing stage from the bar area where drinks are served. The Court has also struck down state government’s condition by which dance bars should be 1 km away from educational and religious places.

Supreme Court has upheld a rule of Maharashtra government by which working women should have contract so they can’t be exploited, however quashed a rule of monthly salary for bar dancers.

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