Court to take up bars ban issue today

The Bombay High Court would hear on Monday the plea of granting interim stay on the ban imposed by the Maharashtra government on dance bars in the state.

The high court has also asked the Union government and state deputy chief minister R R Patil to file their response to a petition of bar owner's association challenging validity of the act banning such establishments.

The association had sought an interim stay on implementation of ban on dance bars in the state, saying it would affect the livelihood of many persons.

The association had challenged the Mumbai Police (Amendment) Act, 2005, banning the dance bars in Maharashtra, contending that the notification is illegal and unconstitutional.

The issue is also related to livelihood of thousands of people and the act cannot be implemented, the petition said adding, the bars are also contributing to the state exchequer.

The petitioner also demanded a CBI probe into the circumstances that led to the ban on dance bars in the state.

There have been monetary dealings between the five-star hotels and the ruling parties for keeping them from the purview of the ban, the petitioner alleged.

The Bombay High Court had earlier admitted another petition filed by Bhartiya Bar Girls Union and kept the matter for hearing on October 3, Union advocate Agnus said.

The court had also admitted a petition of Association Of Hotels and Restaurants (Ahar) challenging implementation of Mumbai Police (Amendment) Act, 2005 on the ground that it has rendered around 10 lakh persons unemployed.