Maharashtra govt to abide by SC orders regarding dance bars

Maharashtra government will check any "untoward activity" taking place under the garb of dance bars, home minister Ranjit Patil said Thursday and asserted that it will respect the Supreme Court verdict on the issue. The apex court has agreed to several provisions of the state's law on dance bars, including time restrictions and no showering of currency notes on performers, the minister said. "The state has not received a written copy of the court order. Once we get that, we will study it and decide further course of action," the minister of state for home (urban) said. "We are committed to abide by the court's verdict and respect it. Within the ambit of the decision, we will maintain vigilance so that no untoward activities happen under the garb of dance bars," Patil said.

Education Minister Vinod Tawde said the BJP-led state government presented its case well before the Supreme Court. Stating that there can be "regulations" but not "total prohibition", the Supreme Court on Thursday paved the way for the reopening of dance bars in Maharashtra by setting aside some provisions of a 2016 law imposing restrictions on their licensing and functioning. Clearing the path for licences allowing dance bars to operate, the court permitted them to be located a kilometre away from religious places and educational institutions. It also allowed tips to performers but disallowed showering of currency on them.