Tuesday, Jul 16, 2013
Mumbai: There were mixed reactions to the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down the Maharashtra government’s eight-year ban on dance bars but the state is not willing to give up its decision and has therefore set up a legal panel to study the apex court’s order.
Home Minister R.R. Patil said in a statement to the Legislative Council: “We have not yet received a copy of the Supreme Court ruling. A panel comprising lawyers, legal consultants and legislators will study it and submit a report to the state government.”
The minister said the panel would suggest whether to approach a full bench, file a review petition or change existing laws in the state against dance bars.
The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court’s verdict, which in April 2006 ruled that the ban violated the constitutional right to earn a living. The bar dancers had contended that, apart from dancing in bars, they knew no other trade.
Around 700 establishments employing over 75,000 women were affected in the state by the government’s ban.
On Tuesday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice S.S. Nijjar also vacated its stay order on the implementation of the Bombay High Court’s order.
The state government had in 2005 introduced an amendment to the Bombay Police Act, which was challenged in the high court by representative of dancers and bar owners.
Varsha Kale, President of the Dance Bar Girls’ Association told Gulf News on telephone from Delhi: “We are happy with the Supreme Court’s judgement, which has finally granted justice to these girls who have suffered immensely in the past. After being treated by the government and society with disrespect, the apex court has at least given them their rights to perform dances to earn their living.”
With accusations of bar dancers indulging in prostitution that led to human trafficking, she said: “Bar girls will abide by the rules of the state and take up their jobs with responsibility.” Of life after the state government imposed a ban on dance bars she said, “I have seen how these girls suffer for lack of a proper livelihood.”
Another activist, Avisha Kulkarni, said that the bar girls’ union was originally formed only to stop the exploitation of young women. While her NGO is helping such girls to move into other careers by giving them vocational training, she said, “despite a ban on dance bars, prostitution and trafficking of women has continued. Our biggest concern is the exploitation of young girls at the hands of some bar owners, customers and the police.”
Manjit Sethi of the Dance Bar Owners’ Association welcomed the SC ruling and said “there couldn’t be a better judgement” for them.
“Ultimately truth prevails. The first day this ban was brought, the government knew it was illegal,” said Sethi.
He said that the authorities must take up strict action against dance bars that violated the law or used their premises as pick-up joints, he said. After the Supreme Court’s verdict, the government should now realise that they made a mistake and act accordingly.”
Meanwhile, political parties for the ban to remain in place.
“After banning dance bars, the government failed to present their case properly to the court,” Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said.
By Pamela Raghunath?Correspondent
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
