Willing to bring new bill so that dance bars are not opened in Mumbai, says Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that even though the Supreme Court had ordered that licenses for dance bars should be issued in Mumbai, the state government was willing to bring a new bill so that the dance bars are not opened.

"We are willing to bring a new bill in next Assembly session so dance bars are not opened in Mumbai," Fadnavis said, as per ANI.   

 

The formal announcement, to restrain the business of dance bars, was made by the CM today evening.

"We will bring a new law in the state concerning dance bars. A bill to this effect will be introduced in the budget session, wherein the first week will witness a discussion in both houses, followed by tabling of the bill and conceiving a new law," Fadnavis said, while addressing a press conference at the Sahyadri state guest house, ahead of the state budget session starting from on Wednesday.

Stating that government cannot permit obscenity, Fadnavis had last week said that they would approach the apex court with an alternative. He had added that his government was also mulling a suitable legislation in the state Legislature on the issue. 

Addressing the press conference today, Chief Minister also said that 15 Bills will be tabled in the Budget session, including the Prevention of Social Boycott Bill. 

Apart from this, seven pending Bills will also be tabled and five ordinances will be converted into Bills, he added. 

Hitting back at the Opposition for demanding a white paper on the MoUs signed by the state government during last month's 'Make in India' week held in Mumbai, Fadnavis said all details pertaining to these deals would be put up online. 

"We have faced a lot of criticism from the Opposition on this issue. I want to clearly tell them that we have formed a task force to keep a tab on each and every MoU signed during the week. We will also put the details of all the MoUs and their progress online which will then be easily accessible to all without filing RTI queries." 

The Supreme Court had earlier modified seven conditions put by the Maharashtra Police for the issuance of licences to hotels and restaurants in Mumbai.

The apex court had ordered to exclude installation of CCTV cameras from restaurants and dance performance place.

The court, however, had said the CCTV can be permitted for security purposes at entrance gate.

 

The Maharashtra government had banned dance bars in 2005. But in October last year the Supreme Court had overruled the state, saying that those working there had a right to livelihood.