State looking at punishing errant bar owners with new, strict rules

With dance bars set to start soon, state looking at imposing penalties under revised law

On one hand the dance bars owners are rejoicing that they will get to start operations in the next few days, the state government on the other the hand is exploring the possibility of punishing offenders under the new Act, which imposes harsher penalties.

As per the new rules under Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (working therein) Act, 2016, the obscenity and exploitation of women working in the bars is punishable with a fine of Rs10 lakh and imprisonment of three years. Similarly, showering of notes and coins may attract a penalty of Rs50,000 and imprisonment of six months. The Act also has the provision of suspension of the licence in case of violations.

“We will follow the Supreme Court orders of issuing the licences as per the old rules, but we also are tapping the possibility of imposing the penalty and pun- ishments as per the new Act. The SC hasn’t neither quashed nor stayed the new law, which means it is still applicable. And not implementing our own law will be unwarranted. I think the bar owners know this very well and hence they are yet to start operations,” said an official from the home department.

Last week, the Supreme Court directed the state government to issue licences to the dance bars as per the old rules. Though the bars have been allowed to operate as per old rules framed in 2014, the harsher provisions of the new Act, enacted in April 2016, and the rules framed subsequently, could be imposed on against the violaters.

“Our priority is to start operations. We are meeting the authorities tomorrow with a copy of the order from the apex court.” said Adarsh Shetty, president, Indian Hotel And Restaurant Association (AHAR).