The Supreme Court on Monday faulted the Maharashtra government for defying its judgment on dance bars and made it clear that it must implement it and file compliance report. A Bench of Justices DipakMisra and Shiva Kirti Singh took serious exception to the statement made by Additional Solicitor general PinkiAnand that since Maharashtra had enacted a new law the present petition had become irrelevant. She said dance bars will have to apply for fresh licence under the new law. Not satisfied with the ASG’s reply, the Bench directed personal appearance of the state Deputy Commissioner of Police on April 25.
The Bench told me ASG the new law is just on paper. “You have no rules in place and cannot take shelter under this to circumvent our order. Let us make it clear that the 2013 judgment was founded on constitutional principles. It is not a permissible right but a constitutional right.” The Bench said that despite the judgment and subsequent orders, Maharashtra was seeking to avoid implementing the order.
