The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside some provisions of a 2016 law imposing restrictions on the licensing and functioning of dance bars in Maharashtra.
The Top court relaxed stringent conditions set by Maharashtra government for getting licences for running dance bars and upheld the time of five and half hours for dance performances.
A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said that there cannot be “total ban on dance bars.” No licence has been granted by Maharashtra government for a dance bar in Mumbai since 2005. “There may be regulations but that should not amount to total prohibition”,
The apex court quashed the provision mandating that dance bars in Maharashtra should be a kilometre away from religious places and educational institutions.
It allowed the payment of tips to performers at dance bars but showering of currency notes cannot be allowed.
However, it also backed fixing the timing of dance bars in the state from 6 pm to 11.30 pm.
The Apex Court also quashed the provision of the 2016 law which mandated that there must be a partition between bar rooms and the dance floor.
Mandatory installation of CCTVs was also struck down by the court that said the rule violates privacy.
