In a big relief to dance bar owners, SC quashed conditions imposed by state govt which required the bar owners to install CCTV in dance bars.

The court struck it down, claiming it was a violation of their privacy.

The court said that since 2005 not a single dance bar has been registered and it felt that the licensing conditions imposed by the state under Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working therein) Act, 2016 should not be such that there is total prohibition.

Other conditions struck down by court include the requirement that dance bar be situated 1 km away from religious places and schools.

The court said this condition cannot be reasonable in a place like Mumbai.

Further, restrictions on serving of alcohol and partition separating bar room was also struck down by court.

The only conditions upheld by court are:

timing of bar from 6 pm to 11.30 pm

written contract for the dance bar performers

definition of obscenity

no showering of currency on performers but only tip be given.

With inputs from Abraham Thomas