The Supreme Court today gave its verdict to reopen dance bars in Maharashtra and upheld the right of bar dancers to pursue their profession, provided dance bars have a license from the state authorities.
The apex court bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice SS Nijjar upheld the right of bar dancers and rejected the Maharashtra government's plea against the Bombay high court verdict striking down the police order that bans dancing in hotels below three stars.
Pronouncing the judgment, Justice Nijjar said they have not touched the question of the right of the dancing girls under Article 19 (A).
The Maharashtra Government had banned dance bars in 2005, stating that they corrupt young people and is responsible for crime and prostitution. But the High Court quashed the government's decision in April 2006, after which the state government appealed in the Supreme Court, which ordered the bars to remain closed until its verdict.
