MH-DANCE BARS-RAHATKAR

The chairperson of Maharashtra

State Commission for Women (MSCW) Thursday said the government

will ensure no violations take place in dance bars after the

Supreme Court paved the way for their reopening in the state.

Stating that there can be "regulations" but not "total

prohibition", the Supreme Court 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.

MSCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said the apex court

verdict does not mean dance bars will operate without any

restrictions.

"Permission will be issued to dance bars within the

framework of law. Besides, the state government will ensure

that no voilations take place in dance bars," Rahatkar said in

a statement.

Senior BJP leader Prem Shukla said the Maharashtra

government will take appropriate decision on the issue after

consulting legal experts.

"The then (Congress-NCP led) government had taken the

decision to ban dance bars to safeguard social fabric. Now

that the Supreme Court has given fresh guidelines, the

Maharashtra government will take appropriate decision after

consulting legal experts," Shukla said.