Mumbai, February 24 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that licenses for orchestra bars will be cancelled if rules are repeatedly violated, and a legal amendment to this effect will be brought soon.
The state had enacted a law to ban dance bars, but it was overturned in the Supreme Court and deemed unconstitutional. The law was modified, and an amendment was made to allow orchestra licenses for bars, Fadnavis noted, while intervening in a debate on the issue during the Question Hour in the assembly.
"The court allowed women to work in the bars, and we amended the rules to make them stricter. However, there are still complaints of violations in areas like Panvel (Navi Mumbai)," the CM said.
"As a principle of natural justice, we will hear and penalize violations three to four times; the orchestra bar licenses will be permanently cancelled for repeat offenses. An amendment will be introduced soon – either in this session or the next legislative session," he said.
Fadnavis said the government wanted to completely ban dance bars, but this was not possible because the owners of dance bars sought orchestra licenses.
"We gave permission for orchestras with strict rules, but there are still complaints," he noted.