New bar code for state: 2 female singers in each bar

Additional public prosecutor Poornima Kantharia had earlier told the court that the state government is planning to amend the necessary rules under the act.

The court has adjourned the hearing for four weeks.

The bar owners argue that the police are harassing them despite them having licenses to operate till 1.30 am.

They contend that the policemen force female orchestra artistes and waitresses out of the restaurants at 9.30 pm.

According to the bar owners,they possess all licenses under the Bombay Police Act,which include permission to run a place of public entertainment,serve foreign liquor and an annual renewable license for an orchestra. They also had approval from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under the Bombay Shops and Establishment Act.

The petition also claims that sometimes the artistes are slapped with “bogus charges” of misbehaving in public under section 110 of Bombay Police Act and sometimes even of obscene acts and songs under 294 of IPC.