New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday admitted a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Maharashtra Government challenging a Bombay High Court judgment, which struck down its law banning dance bars.

A Bench, comprising Justices B.N. Agrawal and P.P. Naolekar, extended till further orders the interim protection given by the High Court suspending the judgment for eight weeks to enable the State to move the Supreme Court. The High Court also asked the Government not to renew the licences of dance bars for eight weeks.

Case posted to July

The Bench posted the matter to July but declined any relief to bar girls.

The Government had introduced amendments to the Bombay Police Act, 1951, and inserted two provisions — imposing a ban on dance performances in eating houses, permit rooms and beer bars but allowing dances in clubs and other places where entry was limited to members. The High Court struck down these provisions. In its SLP, the State said the bars were permitting obscene and vulgar dances. Indecent dances in eating houses were derogatory to the dignity of women and were likely to corrupt or injure public morality.

Further, the bars were being used as meeting points by criminals and pick-up points for girls indulging in immoral activities. The bars were attracting young girls desirous of making easy money, and thus they were drawn into immoral activities.

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