Our Correspondent
The Supreme Court today rapped the Maharashtra government for not granting licenses to dance bars on account of non-compliance of some conditions. Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, had alleged that Maharashtra has not complied with the direction to grant licenses to the dance bar owners within ten days after they complied with the modified pre-conditions.
The bench said it is better for women to perform then begging on streets or doing something unacceptable for earning livelihood. However it said state has to ensure that there is no obscenity in dance bars and the dignity of women is protected there. The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on May 10.
Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh warned Maharashtra government not to overstep its powers by defying the apex court order.
The bench asked both dance bar owners and the police to comply with mutually-agreed terms which were part of earlier court orders. Apex Court asked all dance bars to get criminal antecedents of their employees checked by local police, besides installing CCTV cameras at all entry points of dance bars. The bench had granted three days to dance bar owners to comply with the modified conditions.