The Maharashtra Legislative Council on Monday unanimously cleared the Bill to regulate dance bars in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra without even discussing its details.
Neither Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse nor members of the Council were even carrying the copy of the Bill when it was presented in the House.
Following its clearance in the Upper House, the Bill will now be introduced in the Assembly on Tuesday where too it is likely to be passed without any opposition.
The draft of the Bill was discussed and cleared in the 25-member, all-party MLA and MLC committee.
Stringent conditionsAs per the draft, dance bars have not been banned but stringent conditions have been imposed to ensure that no owner comes forward to set up a dance bar. As per the draft, all performances will have to be approved by the censor board for theatre performances. Approximately five feet distance must be maintained between customers and dancers.
Performers cannot be touched by anyone and neither money nor gifts can be showered on them. Podium will be isolated by a three-foot wall.
No liquorThe draft mandates that restaurant and dancing area should be kept separate by building a wall and liquor will not be served where the performance is on. No more than four dancers can perform on a platform at a time.
‘No vulgarity’Interestingly, the draft mandates that performance cannot be vulgar.
However, it does not specify the definition of “vulgar.”
All dancers should be 21 years old and it is the responsibility of the hotel owner to provide Provident Fund to them. Dance bars cannot be opened in a residential area.
