Supreme Court dilutes law on Maharashtra dance bars like mandatory CCTVs, but upholds provisions like time restriction

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside certain provisions of a law imposing restrictions on the licensing and functioning of dance bars in Maharashtra. A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri quashed certain provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working therein) Act, 2016, like the mandatory installation of CCTVs and a partition between bar rooms and the dance floor. [caption id=“attachment_2469592” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Image courtesy: Reuters[/caption] The top court, however, upheld a few provisions. It allowed the payment of tips to performers but made it clear that showering of currency notes cannot be allowed. It quashed the provision mandating that dance bars in Maharashtra should be at least a kilometre away from religious places and educational institutes. It also upheld the condition fixing the timing of dance bars in the state from 6 pm to 11.30 pm.