Skin show,throwing cash at women singers not allowed in bars: state

A division bench of Justice PB Majmudar and Justice AA Sayed asked the government counsel how were the audience expected to appreciate a female singer’s performance. Government counsel Nitin Deshpande said,“They can always offer their token of appreciation in a dignified manner. Throwing notes does not fit in with our culture.”

The draft rules also state,“Performers should not be allowed to wear dresses that expose their body in any way or dresses which are very tight/revealing/transparent.”

Although the judges asked the government to re-think this proposed rule,Deshpande said,“So long as what takes place is display of art,the government will not interfere. But when the singer wears a provocative dress,it ceases to be art and becomes something else.”

The court felt that the 9:30 deadline was a “reasonable restriction” on their profession considering their security. Justice Majumdar remarked no woman,by choice,would prefer to sing in a bar where people drink. That’s why,the judges said,the government needs to ensure at the time of granting licence to run orchestra bars that female artists reach home safe. The court said that it hopes the government will finalise the rules by May 3.

Justifying the restriction of only four female artists in bars,Deshpande said,if more are permitted,they are employed as waitresses. The draft rules also state that there should be no physical contact between the audience and the singers and places that have female artists,should not have dim lights.