The Government of Maharashtra, so as to protect the honor and dignity of women has framed a law that imposes restrictions on activities of bars that has bar performances for the customers.
According to reports, the Government of Maharashtra appealed to the Supreme Court that bar dancing is ‘not an art form that needs to be protected and promoted’. The government also said that these activities are ‘vulgar and derogatory’ and are a cover up for rackets.
Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act 2016, gives justification for framing of this law. Also, they have said that as these girls ae not ‘trained artists’ and also argued that their dancing holds very little entertainment value and are often obscene.
This Act states that no alcohol should be served in areas surrounding the dance floors and that all the bars have proper working CCTV cameras. This order has upset the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association who challenged it in the Supreme Court. The Court has called these claims by Maharashtra Government as ‘absurd and regressive’ and permitted the owners to carry out their business as usual.
