Speak up Mumbai: Supreme Court stays ban, but should the dance bars reopen?

After the Supreme Court relaxed the stringent condition in the dance bar law, the dance bars owners are hopeful to reopen their set-up after the gap of 13 years. The SC has allowed tips to be given to the performers but has disallowed showering of currency on them. It also quashed some 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 dance bars saying they violates privacy.

The ban had affected the employment of about 40,000-to-50,000 people, including bar dancers, waiters etc. There were more than 500 dance bars that was shut down in 2005 in Mumbai and it's extended suburb. Earlier government wanted to impose the blanket ban on dance bars, however the Supreme Court squashed the law saying this is against the constitution and against it's fundamental provisions of earn a livlihood and be a part of a profession. DNA tried to gauge the experts, politicians, and public in general, over this significant issue.

VOICES

The ban on the dance bars across Mumbai city is been lifted by Supreme Court and the split reaction can be seen throughout the city. The Bar Union is blithe with the verdict, the government and the society on the other side is yet to cope up with it. The government has a better understanding of the matter, but their reactions may create a tangentially indirect impact on the upcoming general elections.
— Shreyas Bhandary, Worli resident

The trade reaction on the Supreme Court's verdict on the upliftment of the ban on dance bars across Mumbai has created a debate amongst the bar union members, the government and the society on the other side. The verdict will have a significant impact, as it will benefit those who are a part of the business and will help those who are depended on it as well.
— Anwar Shaikh, Worli resident

The Supreme Court wants dance bars to start, but state is opposing the verdict. The state believes that women are forced in to to work at a dance bar as it earns them good money. Also there is a morality issue here. Throwing of money may not be allowed but money is allowed to be kept on the table. There is no way the authorities can prevent an interaction between a client and dancer. Dance bars are nodal points of all problems and hence it should not be reopened. These activities are still in function but when it gets a carpet order, then there are law and order issues that begin to arise."
— Biju Augustine, Andheri resident

I protest against the opening of dance bars if they do affect anyone's personal life. Else I don't have any issues with it. Many women who work at dance bars are bread winner of their family. It is their source of income. But the government have to restrict minor girls who are forced into this. Dance bar should not be banned but it requires strict planning and implementation of laws so thatthey don't affect anyone.
— Vaijayanti Shirsekar, Nerul, Navi Mumbai resident

The dance bar should not be reopened. It may divert the younger generation from their goals. It may also lead to law and order problems in the city. Just for a few people, a generation can not be put at stake. The state government must ensure that these set-ups are barred from opening.
— Anil Nagre, Grant Road resident

For years dance bars have been known for harbouring and even pushing young women into prostitution. There are traffickers who supply young women in bars. many of the dance bar owners are associated with traffickers. While I understand there is a livelihood question but it's not like customer comes to drink only because women are dancing. Especially when you know human trafficking is third largest organised crime, that is livelihood too.
— Dipesh Tank, Malad resident

Closing dance bar is snatching food and forcing dance girls to indulge in prostitution, or in other wrong ways of earning. It's better to firstly arrange dignified jobs for their survival and then make any decisions. It's bitter truth that we have perverts enter these bars too. The government should work towards providing job to the girls involved in the business and assure safety of women in India.
— Ashwani Soni, Mira Road resident

Dance bars encourages and promotes vulgarism and alcoholism, hence they should not be allowed to reopen. People from criminal backgrounds are generally associated with the bars. Some people also get addicted to this, and lose on a lot of money. It has broken many families too in the past. Also the dance bars are against our culture and morals and it promotes obscenity too. While every profession has its pros and cons, but here, there is no good that can come out if the dance bars are allowed to reopen.
— Jeetendra Ghadge, Girgaon resident

EXPERT SPEAK

The SC order did not take into account "the adverse opinion of the people of the state against dance bars" and added that the state government would strive to ensure that "no untoward precedent in the name of dance bars" would be set. The clause like allowing them to operate in a window between 6 pm-11:30 pm were retained too. Court also did not strike down provisions of Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act, 2016. The state government would decide on its future course of action soon."
— Dr Ranjeet Patil, Minister for State

It is very unfortunate that the dance bars are going to reopen again. Dance bars had caused several adverse issues in Panvel and it's adjoining areas. Many families turned out to be bankrupt. They used to shower thousands of rupees on dance bar girls every day and got addictive of it. Most of them got even divorce and ended life by committing suicides. Few of them died due to AIDs like diseases. We will not allow these bars again reopen and ruin our people and their families.
— Vivek Patil, former MLA and Peasant and Workers Party leader