Maharashtra: 3 dance bars get licence, cops say they will follow new law

The Maharashtra government on Thursday clarified that the dance bar licences being issued to six of the eight cases as recommended by the Supreme Court are an "exception" and that the new stringent rules will be applicable for them as well. However, on Thursday, only three bars owners were able to pay the steep Rs 2 lakh permission fee and obtain the licence, while three others are expected to complete the formalities on Friday.

Principal secretary (home) Vijay Satbir Singh said the six who have been issued licences will have to abide by the new law to run the bars, else the licence will be revoked within 60 days.

Meaning which, on reopening, these bars will neither be allowed to serve liquor in the performance area nor would smoking be permitted, besides other stringent conditions. Moreover, as soon as the owners get the bar dance licence they will have to surrender licences pertaining to discotheque or orchestra, if at all they hold any.

"The SC has acknowledged our new law and we have complete freedom to impose it on the licence holders once the bars are opened," said Singh.

As for these eight setting a precedent for others to procure licences without abiding by the new law, Singh said, these cases have been examined by the SC itself and they have held licence in past as well. "But we are confident that they would not be taken as precedent by other dance owners."

In fact, the state government, in its hearing on Friday, would be requesting the apex court to now dispose of the matter as all the directions given by the SC are being followed by the government.

"We have hired a battery of senior lawyers including Harish Salve and Pinky Anand who would now be moving for final disposal of the case," he added.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Ahar) said, "Out of 8 bars, 2 bar owners are out of town. While 6 bar owners were about to reach the (police) headquarters, they were informed to get a DD of Rs 2 lakh for licence. Out of 6 bar owners, three bar owners – Airo Punjab bar at Andheri, Sai prasad at Andheri and Indiana at Tardeo – were issued licence."

The statement further said, "According to the new law, the dance bar timings are from 6 to 11.30 pm. Also, if any kind of obscenity is found, owner will be fined Rs 5 lakh or five years of jail. We will be informing the court that these conditions are unacceptable."

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Maharashtra government to grant licence to eight dance bars within two days and asked them to give an undertaking that they would not engage employees with criminal antecedents near the dance area.

In its April order the SC took strong note of non-compliance of its order asking Mumbai police to grant licence to dance bars.

The court, while modifying certain pre-conditions framed by home department for granting licence to dance bars had said, "the modified conditions along with conditions on which there is no cavil shall be complied with within three days and the respondents (Maharashtra and its police) shall issue the licence within ten days therefrom.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra assembly had on April 12 unanimously passed the Dance Bar Regulation Bill, which has provisions for stringent actions against the violators. The new bill fixes accountability on the owner in case of violation of rules, exploitation of women employees, or in cases of obscenity. Owners or operators face up to up to five years in jail and fines of up to Rs 25,000 for violations. Separate rules are being formulated on this, based on the provisions of the Bill.