Process licences for dance bars: SC tells Maharashtra

New Delhi, Nov 26  The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra government to consider and decide in two weeks applications for licence by hoteliers for dance performances in beer bars and restaurants.

An apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C. Pant gave two weeks' time as the court was told that the Maharashtra government has not carried out its October 15 order both in letter as well as spirit.

The court said steps would be taken to ensure that there was no obscenity during dance performances.

By its October 15 order, the apex court had stayed the operation of provision of the Maharashtra Police Act that prohibited dance performances at eating places, beer bars and restaurants.

The court had noted that the provision was brought back in the Maharashtra Police Act in 2014 after being held ultra vires in 2013 by the top court.