Since implementing a ban on dance bars in 2005, the Maharashtra government has been following it up with carefully worded laws and ordinances, despite the Supreme Court terming these unconstitutional.
In the earlier regime, former Home Minister R.R. Patil proposed rehabilitation for women working in dance bars as an alternate. But with no specific plan in place for ‘rehabilitation’, many of the women ended up in the flesh trade. A majority of them were from > tribes of traditional dancers .
At the time, there were over > 75,000 dancers employed in dance bars across Mumbai and its satellite towns. Now, the women employed in bars have shrunk to 20,000.
Even after a regime change, the state’s stand on the issue didn’t. The state government tried to > bring in CCTVs , which was shot down by the court; passed > an Ordinance against the court order lifting the ban, which too was rejected in court; tried to redefine > the word ‘obscenity’ in its laws, and that was seen as bypassing the court.
"The State can’t permit obscenity it has seen in the past in dance bars. We will approach the Hon’ble Supreme Court with an alternative. The State government is also contemplating moving a suitable legislation,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
“As the State, your job is to protect the dignity of these women in their workplace. Your attitude should not go into the extremes of prohibition when you are only supposed to regulate. This is 2016," the > Supreme Court had said .
Now, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to issue licences to bars, but the state hasn’t responded as yet. Bar owners are in a state of flux, since the police haven’t received any direction from the state.
When one of the state's counsel said that criminal antecedents of dancers should also be looked into and conditions be imposed on them.
The court took strong note of this and said “Are you trying to convey to us that they are criminals? Nobody can earn livelihood if they are convicted. We want to save the dignity of women,” the bench said
Also read
>Fadnavis not dancing in joy
The Chief Minister may not be happy with SC decision disallowing CCTVs in dance bars, but owners are thrilled.
>Dancing to fate’s tune
A staggering 90 per cent of the dancers are from tribal communities who are performers by tradition.
>'Grant licenses to 8 dance bars'
The Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra state government to grant licenses to eight dance bars by May 12.
>State redefines 'obscenity'
The Devendra Fadnavis government tried to bring in a new law containing a definition what is "obscene” in dance.
Analysis
>Anatomy of a lost livelihood
Young women made a living in bars until the ban in 2005 shut them down.
>Maximum City’s morality play
The campaign to enforce the law seems more about imposing the “right values.”
>An unhealthy defiance
It is not unusual to see State governments showing reluctance to abide by court orders.
>A needless encore
It is believed that thousands of women lost their source of livelihood
