Dance bars: Why Maharashtra govt is unhappy with SC verdict

While the Supreme Court’s decision on dance bars in Maharashtra might have spread cheer in the dancers’ quarters, the state government has vowed to oppose the apex court’s decision and do everything in its capacity to bring back the ban. Incidentally, the objection to dance bars didn’t originally rise from the Congress-NCP led government. According to a DNA report, in 2005, Vivek Patil, a Peasnts and Workers Party MLA from Panvel had pointed out the problems dance bars were creating in his constituency in a calling attention motion at the state assembly. He had brought up a case where reportedly, a man had committed murder to earn money to splurge on dance bars. [caption id=“attachment_962299” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Performers at a dance bar. AFP.[/caption] Patil had blamed dance bars for everything from road accidents to compromised women’s safety. After the verdict, he alleged that the state government probably did not argue their case strongly enough which led to the ban being overturned. However, the Maharshtra government has vowed to prove the likes of Patil wrong and has declared that they will file a petition asking for a review of the Supreme Court judgment. Home Minister RR Patil said that dance bars corrupt the society and the government will fight to get the ban back. DNA reports:

“Lawyers will study the verdict and decide on whether we need to file a review petition, approach the full bench (of the SC) or pass a new law in the legislature,” said Patil who became popular among the middle class after the 2006 decision on the ban.

Hindustan Times reports that if nothing else works out, the government might proceed to amend the Bombay Police (Amendment) Act, 2005 which allows dance performances in three star and five star hotels. One of the primary contentions of the groups seeking the ban be lifted was the discriminatory attitude of the government which shot down small dance bars but let the bigger hotels function as usual. While Patil said that women’s organisations have approached him to get the ban back in place, the BJP, Congress and Shiv Sena unanimously denounced the Supreme Court’s judgment.