SC notice to Maharashtra government on plea of bar dancers' body

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra government to explain its 2016 rules which allowed bar girls to be employed only on a salary basis and banned them from receiving tips from customers.

The state government had also refused to allow liquor to be served during the performances and restricted the shows to between 6 pm and 11 pm. The rules also stopped more than four women from performing together and made CCTV surveillance by police compulsory .

The state government's curbs on such dance shows on the ground of obscenity was earlier struck down by the Supreme Court.


Since then, the state has made the rules more stringent, refusing to allow anyone aged below 21 from attending such shows and making it virtually impossible to get a licence to hold such performances. The rules also make it compulsory to have a partition between the dance arena and the dining area.

A fresh plea by the bar girls' association said that the rules were unreasonable and impinge on their right to earn livelihood.

A bench headed by justice Dipak Mishra issued notices asking the state to formally place its legal stand on the matter.