It’s time for a possible return of the informally-banned live bands after the Karnataka high court last week directed the police to reconsider applications of band operators.
Karnataka high court directs police to reconsider applications of band operators and artistes within 15 days
BANGALORE: The Beats, a pub on Bangalore’s famous Brigade Road, could soon sizzle with a bunch of women in colourful clothes, mostly from Mumbai and West Bengal, dancing and singing to entertain customers. So could the other over 120 restaurants and bars in the city.
It’s time for a possible return of the informally-banned live bands after the Karnataka high court last week directed the police to reconsider applications of band operators and artistes within 15 days.
A bench headed by justice Anandbyra Reddy issued the order on a bunch of petitions filed by the Karnataka Live Band Restaurants Association.
“The authorities should take a pragmatic approach in this matter. If they (live bands) are allowed to operate freely, the ‘crave’ among the general public would be naturally less. It is only when something is restricted, the ‘crave’ for it increases,” the bench observed.
The petitioners claimed the authorities rejected their applications demanding occupancy certificates of restaurants and other allied documents not required or on another ground.
The police, though weary of the possibility of illegal flesh trade resuming, feel live bands do serve a purpose and keep “open prostitution” in check.
“E-brothels and massage parlours have flourished since the restrictions on live bands. We should accept the need of the people to be entertained. However, the rules are yet to be laid down,” said an official in the Women and Narcotics Wing that keeps a check on the flesh trade in Bangalore.
Reacting to the directive, the chairman of the Pub and Bar Owners Association said it could provide livelihood to thousands of artistes. “With restrictions in place, they might not openly return to flesh trade,” he hoped.
Karnataka Live Band and Restaurant Association president Sanjay S, though, was sceptical. “The directive doesn’t say it is mandatory to approve the license. We are at the policeman’s mercy,” he said.
Live bands were banned in Karnataka in mid-2005, soon after Maharashtra banned bar dancers. Fearing their influx to Bangalore, the then coalition government of the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) cracked the whip that brought over 1,000 artistes to streets. The Karnataka high court had then supported the ban. The Supreme Court, however,
had observed that live bands could operate with certain restrictions.
k_bhargavi@dnaindia.net
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