The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday struck down Rule 11 (1) of the Karnataka Excise Licences (General Conditions) Rules, 1967, which prohibits dance on the premises where liquor is served in view of the Supreme Court’s judgment allowing dance by women in bars.
Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by Chef Inn Regency, Bar & Restaurant in Domlur, and two women dancers. The petitioners had sought a direction to the Police Department to consider their application to run a dance bar.
The Supreme Court in its July 16, 2013 verdict in the case of State of Maharashtra and Indian Hotel & Restaurants’ Association had upheld the Bombay High Court order of declaring that “ban on bar dancers violates the constitutional rights.”
Justice Hinchigeri, however, said that the State can initiate action against the liquor-serving joints where dance is allowed in case of any violations.
