Three dance bars can serve liquor, sans CCTV... for now

The Supreme Court yesterday allowed three dance bars in Maharashtra to continue to operate under the old terms and conditions

The Supreme Court has asked the state government to ban liquor altogether if they want to prohibit it in the dance bars

The Supreme Court yesterday allowed three dance bars in the state to continue to operate under the old terms and conditions. Owners of six such dance bars had approached the apex court early this year, out of which three — two in Andheri and one in Tardeo – were given the permission. The call on the other three will be taken on November 24.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan observed that the “persons granted licence should be allowed to continue under old terms and conditions”, that permit serving of liquor with CCTV cameras at the entrance.

“Anybody who has a bar licence, you can’t say that you can’t serve liquor. You ban liquor in the state,” said Justice Misra to Shekhar Naphade, senior counsel representing the state government.

CCTV hurdle
Without putting on hold the other new rules that limited the timings of the dances up to 11.30 pm and installation of CCTV cameras in the dance bar itself, the bench said, “You fight for the dignity of women. You protect the dignity of women.”

“These are security arrangements and CCTV footage is crucial evidence. To ensure that regulations are complied with by the dance bars, we need the CCTVs in performance areas,” Naphade said.

The bench said, “How can there be CCTV cameras in the performance areas? Is it not the infringement of right to privacy? We have no objection to installation of CCTV cameras at the entrance of dance bars.”

The bench asked senior counsel Jayant Bhushan, appearing for the dance bar owners, if they could make some arrangements so as to assist the police if needed. “People have some right to privacy,” said Bhushan.

Police officers have refused to comment on the issue saying they are yet to see the order copy.

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