Govt wants dance bar ban in Maharashtra to continue: Devendra Fadnavis
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the Maharashtra government wanted the ban on dance bars to continue in the state.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the Maharashtra government wanted the ban on dance bars to continue in the state. “To ensure this, we will enact a new strong law, which will stand scrutiny in courts, in this budget session only,” Mr Fadnavis said.
The issue of dance bars was raised by Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde in the state legislature on Friday.
“Dance bars, which have an adverse effect on the young generation, are also likely to lead to crimes in the state. Former home minister R.R. Patil had successfully managed to prevent dance bars from conducting business for 10 years. Now, what happened suddenly in last one year that the Supreme Court has ordered that the ban on dance bars be revoked If the state government is planning to bring in new bill for ban on dance bars, the opposition parties will support it,” he said.
Replying to him, Mr Fadnavis said, “After the court ruled against the state government’s Act banning dance bars, the Advocate General drafted a new law, but it was rejected by the previous government. Thereafter, the new law drafted by the government was termed “amateurish” by the AG. It was once again challenged by Dance Bar Owners Association in courts.”
“We had put 22 conditions before the Supreme Court for running the dance bars. But the SC struck down seven of them. If we want to ensure ban on dance bars, we should not go by emotions. The legal battle has to be fought with legal means only,” he added.
We have readied a draft law that has included suggestions from all stakeholders. It will be presented to a committee of members of both Houses for study. After taking into account their suggestions and objections, a new Act will be brought before the House. Bringing in a strong law will be true tribute to R.R. Patil, said the chief minister.
The committee can study the draft legislation in the coming week and a law can be passed afterwards, said Ramraje Nimbalkar, the chairman of legislative council.