Maharashtra govt firm on dance bar ban, says Home Minister

The Maharashtra government is firm on not letting dance bars reopen, Home Minister R R Patil informed the state Assembly today, and indicated that it will bring in an ordinance soon to ensure that the dance bar ban continues.

'An option suggested by the advocate general is to come out with an ordinance to ensure the ban continues,' Patil said, replying to a debate in the House on law and order in the state.

'We will do whatever is needed to be done to ensure the dance bars don't reopen,' he said. 'Had we not banned them, the speed with which they would have increased would have given Maharashtra a negative identity,' he added.

The existing laws pertaining to existing laws of labour, excise, revenue and women and child welfare department are sufficient to enforce ban on dance bars, he said.

A meeting of party group leaders in the House would be convened soon on the ordinance issue, he said. 'We will then go before the cabinet, after which the ordinance would be issued,' the minister said.

The apex court had last month lifted the ban on dance bars quashing the law approved by the state legislature.

Showing sympathy towards the police personnel convicted in the Lakhan Bhaiya encounter case, the home minister said the state government would back the police personnel.

He also ensured the Assembly that all possible help would be given to their families.