Supreme Court: The bench of Dr. AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, JJ set aside certain provisions of Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working therein) Act, 2016 imposing restrictions on the licensing and functioning of dance bars in Maharashtra but partly upheld the validity of the Act.
The Court quashed some of the provisions like mandatory installation of CCTVs and a partition between bar rooms and the dance floor; showering of currency notes on the dancers and the provision mandating that dance bars in Maharashtra should be one kilometre away from religious places and educational institutions.
The Court, though set aside a provision that ensured a monthly salary for the artists, it held that there has to be a written contract between bar dancers and their employers. It also approved the timing of 6 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. for dance bars in Mumbai.
(Source: PTI)
