SC asks govt to issue licence to Ratna Bar, Aero Punjab, Durga Prasad, Gooday Sai Prasad, Uma Palace, Natraj Bar and Indiana Bar
With the Supreme Court order, asking Maharashtra government to issue licenses to eight dance bars on basis of 26 points approved by the court in its February order, confusion prevailed amongst the officials as well as the bar owners over the new Maharashtra dance bar Bill passed in the assembly a month ago.
The bill is currently pending with the President for final approval but has already been passed by the Maharashtra assembly and council and can become a law anytime soon. "We have not yet taken any decision on the licensing issue. A team of Mumbai police officers has gone to Delhi and we will take further step only once we know what exactly the court has said. We have not yet got the order," said joint commissioner of police, administration, Anup Kumar Singh.
While senior government officers refused to talk on the issue saying they have yet not seen the court order, office bearer in AHAR (Association of Hotels and Restaurants) claimed that they have asked everyone to apply for licenses as per the court order.
"Although most of our members have already applied and are waiting for the licenses. From our side we have asked the remaining few to also apply as per the 26 points approved by the court before the next hearing on Friday," said Santosh Shetty of AHAR.
When asked to comment on how will they cope when the new bill will come into effect, Shetty refrained from answering.
Minister of state for home Ram Shinde also retreated the same but did not say what will happen when the new law comes into effect. "At present, every licence will be given on the basis of the 26 norms set earlier. As for the new dance bar rules, it is yet to be notified by the President," he stated.
Meanwhile, the eight bars court has asked to issue licenses within two days, include Ratna Bar, Aero Punjab, Durga Prasad, Gooday Sai Prasad (classic) in Andheri, Uma Palace in Mulund, Natraj Bar in Tilak Nagar and Indiana Bar in Tardeo.
Reacting to the Supreme Court order on giving licences to eight dance bars, Shinde said that the dance bars which would be eligible as per the rules framed by the department would be given licences.
Speaking to media persons at his office in Mantralaya Shinde said that whatever rules home department has prepared are in accordance with the Supreme Court rulings and the dance bars which abide by the rules would be allowed to run.
The state government has passed the new dance bar Bill and after passing it in both the Houses of state assembly, the government is waiting for the presidential approval after which it would be implemented. Till that time we would implement the rules farmed by home department.
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