Dance bars unlikely in Karnataka

Mangaloretoday/DHNS

Bangalore, Aug 8, 2013: The Supreme Court’s recent ruling to allow reopening of dance bars in Maharashtra may not have any bearing on Karnataka, thanks to the state home department’s interpretation that the order applies only to such joints attached to three-star hotels and above.

Senior officials in the department contended that the apex court had struck down the demand for independent dance bars.  According to the department, the functioning of a dance bar is not recognised in the State. If a dance bar exists, it will be illegal. 

 

A July 8 order issued by the State government suggested guidelines for public entertainment. It reiterated the government’s stand against dance bars. The order said, “No employees, including women, men or ‘transgenders,’ shall be employed for dancing or any other kind of exhibition.”

The order barred any obscene gesture directed at women, like flinging currency, offering inducements, passing indecent remarks or any other indecent electronic communication.

City Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar had said the Supreme Court order was being interpreted by the law department. A dance bar may be any location where professional dancers gather and there is an exchange of money for services rendered.

“We are aware of the Supreme Court order. But at the commissioner level, it is not possible to take any decision. It is under the purview of the home department to take any call on this matter,” he explained.

Central Crime Branch sleuths on August 4 raided seven pubs and bars at Upparpet and Gandhinagar in Bangalore. Around 240 women were reportedly “rescued” and owners of the pubs arrested.

Repeated attempts to contact Home Minister K J George for a government  clarification on dance bars failed.