The Supreme Court of India has given a go-ahead this morning to the reopening of dance bars in Mumbai. Stating that there can be no ‘total prohibition’, the top court has allowed the reopening of dance bars but pointed out that there have to be certain ‘regulations’ in place. No new licenses have been issued by the Maharashtra government since 2005.
The Supreme Court has also relaxed some of the conditions to be fulfilled to open a dance-bar in Mumbai. Dismissing some of the stringent rules set up by the state government like ‘putting up CCTV’ surveillance in bars and issuing license only to people of ‘good character’ as ‘vague’, the apex court has emphasized on the need to restrict the performance timings to five and a half hours only.
While tipping and orchestra performances are permitted, ‘showering of cash and coins’ inside the bar is prohibited. The dancing stage need no longer be segregated from the bar as per the Supreme Court directive. Neither do dance bars have to be at least one kilometer away from places of worship or educational institutions. While not endorsing a regular monthly salary for dancers, the top court has however upheld the rule of the Maharashtra government of engaging the dancers as working women on contracts.
By the Dance Bar Regulation Bill passed unanimously on April 13, 2017 by the Assembly, drinks cannot be served in the staging areas. All establishments are also required to shut down 11:30 PM.
