"Dance bars judgement is of mixed nature, doesn't reflect sentiments of people", says Maharashtra's Home Minister Ranjeet Patil

The Supreme Court's verdict on dance bars is a mixed judgement and does not reflect the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra, said Maharashtra Home Minister of State, Ranjeet Patil on Thursday. The top court allowed dance bars to re-open in Mumbai, saying that there cannot be "a total prohibition" on them in the country's commerce capital.

"The Supreme Court's judgement given today about dance bars is a judgement of mixed nature. However, the people of Maharashtra are against the dance bars, so this judgement doesn't reflect the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra," Mr Patil said.

"We will follow the Supreme Court's verdict with all due respect but will not allow any wrongdoing in the name of dance bars in the state," he added.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled for protection over moral policing while deciding on strict conditions by the Maharashtra government for running of the dance bars. Saying that the government was conducting moral policing, it has struck down stringent provisions imposed by it for getting licences to run dance bars to open in Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra.

Read: SC Allows Dance Bars To Continue In Maharashtra With Protective Guidelines For Women, Comes Down Hard On State Government

Important rulings from the apex court below:

"Perception of obscenity changed with time; filmmakers earlier desisted from showing lovemaking and kissing scenes on screen and shots of birds and flowers were shown," the top court told the government.

• Supreme Court quashed a rule that which segregated dancing stage from the bar area where drinks are served 
• Quashed a condition by which dance bars should stay 1 km away from educational and religious places
• Quashed conditions laid by the Maharashtra government of putting CCTV cameras in dance bars of Mumbai, called giving licence to people of good character as 'vague'

The Supreme Court also said, "there cannot be total prohibition on dance bars. No licence has been granted by Maharashtra since 2005. There may be regulations but that should not amount to total prohibition."

• Quashed a rule of monthly salary for bar dancers
• Allowed for an orchestra to play in the dance bar, and said that tips can be given to the women
• Disallowed the act of showering of cash and coins inside the bar
• The judgment also agreed on the condition regarding the timing which said that the place should be operated between 6:30 to 11:30 pm

The apex court has set aside the provision for serving of alcohol. It has also said that CCTV will not be installed in the bar. 

(With inputs from ANI)