HC dismisses Sethi plea

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by dance bar owner Manjit Singh Sethi challenging the 90-day jail term handed to him by the state Assembly for breach of privilege. Sethi was arrested on April 12 after the House held him guilty for breach privilege for allegedly making a statement in March 2005 that bar dancers would not allow ministers’ wives to walk on the streets.

Sethi had contended that the politicians were trying to use the House as an “agency or instrument of oppression” to crush the agitation against the ban on dance bars. But the HC ruled that the plea could not be entertained as the Assembly order did not violate principles of natural justice.

Sethi was released on April 21 when the Assembly session came to an end. The sentence awarded by the legislature can be served only while the House is in session. He surrendered on July 3, when the monsoon session commenced, and will have to serve the remaining sentence.