Nothing Obscene About It

It is no secret that ever since a ban was imposed on dance bars in Mumbai, much nightlife had gone underground in the city. Ironically, the state government, which had justified its action saying that dance bars were a front for prostitution rackets, had allowed five-star hotels and elite clubs to run such entertainment centres.

The Supreme Court’s stay on the ban order means that dance bars can now re-open, providing respite to all the men and women who lost their livelihood and were forced to seek shelter in illegal bars run by sleazy operators. Making dance bars legal and running them in a transparent manner is key to ensure people’s right to livelihood and safe employment.

Regulating dance bars is certainly a right of the state government, but letting shady ‘substitute businesses’ thrive is a major failure—all of which was done to stop ‘obscenity’, a concept that is as subjective as it can get. Such arbitrary bans are unwise and unwarranted.

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