Council clears dance bar Bill without debate

The Maharashtra Legislative Council on Monday unanimously cleared the bill to regulate dance bars in Mumbai and the rest of the state without even discussing its details. Following its clearance by the Upper House, the bill will now be introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, where it is likely to be passed without much opposition.

The draft of the bill was discussed and cleared in the 25-member all-party MLA and MLC committee.

As per the draft bill, dance bars have not been banned but stringent conditions have been put forward to make it difficult for owners sets up the dance bar. It was introduced as ‘A bill to provide for prohibition of obscene dance in hotels, restaurant, bar rooms and establishments and to improve the conditions of work, protect the dignity and safety of women in such places with a view to prevent their exploitation.’

As per the bill, those owners who violate terms and conditions prescribed to get permission to set up the dance bar can be jailed for five years or fined Rs 25 lakh. In cases of sexual harassment or ‘vulgar dance’ an owner jailed for three years or fined Rs 10 lakh.

An approximate five-foot distance must be maintained between customers and dancers. Performers cannot be touched and neither money nor gifts can be showered on them. Also, the performance area will be separated by a three-foot wall. Jail terms of up to six months or a fine of Rs 50,000 is suggested in the bill for violating these terms. Interestingly, the bill mandates that performances cannot be vulgar and ‘dancers cannot show their private parts’. As per the definition, any dance that is meant to arouse the audience, simulates a sexual act or indicates sexual activity will be termed vulgar.

Dance bar licenses will be suspended for failing to abide by any of the conditions, but licensees will be given a chance to present their case before such action is taken. Licenses will be terminated if a similar offence is committed thrice. It also stipulates that liquor will not be served in the performance area, and that no more than four dancers perform on the stage at any given time. Dance bars cannot be opened in a residential area or within one kilometre of schools and colleges.

The Supreme Court had on March 2 asked the state government to start issuing licences to dance bars by March 15. It had ordered that CCTV cameras be installed at the entrance of bars and not in the restaurant or the permit area or the performance area, which was requested by the State government.

Following the order, 150 bars sought a licence to hold live dance performances. Key among the 26 conditions was the rule on maintaining distance between dancers and customers. On March 15, four bars received licences to hold dance performances, but a couple of days later these were revoked when officials inspected the bars and found they hadn’t complied with all the preconditions, such as a fresh NOC from the city fire department .

The Dance Bar Association said it will be making a representation to the Supreme Court on April 18 during the next hearing.