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Sexuality, Morality and Law – Defending
the Bar Dancers |
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The female dancer / entertainer has been an
integral part of the city’s thriving nightlife,
of the Bombay that never sleeps. The city is
hailed as the crowning glory of the nation’s
entertainment industry and the proliferation of
dance bars was due to the boost given to the
liquor industry within the state of Maharashtra
to increase its revenue. |
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The presence of the bar dancers in the city
first made news when in August, 2004, a
large number of girls with their faces
covered, came out, along with the bar
owners, in protest against police harassment
within bars.
Suddenly, the dancer from the city’s sleazy bars
and shadowy existence had spilled over into the
public domain. Her photographs were splashed
across the tabloids and television screens. She
had become the topic of conversation at street
corners and market places; in ladies
compartments of local trains and at dinner
tables in middle class homes. Every one had an
opinion and a strong one at that. Saint or
sinner…worker or whore…spinner of easy money and
wrecker of homes or victim of patriarchal
structures and market economy? The debate on
sexual morality and debasement of metropolitan
Mumbai seemed to be revolving around her
existence (or non-existence).
On July 21, 2005, the Bill was passed. Since the
demand for the ban was shrouded with the mantle
of sexual morality, it was passed unanimously
which came into effect on August 14th, 2005. We
challenged the ban on behalf of bar dancers.
While the case was pending a large number of
girls who were working in bars as waitresses
were arrested and humiliated in police custody
and in prison. We brought out an investigative
report on the plight of these girls,
‘Abuse of Power’ which was released by a
panel of eminent citizens. We also negotiated
with bar owners and were able to secure bail for
around 100 bar dancers who did not have the
means to pay the bail amount that was ordered.
Finally in April 2006 the Court struck down the
dance bar ban on the ground that it violates
fundamental right to equality and freedom
guaranteed by the Constitution. |
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“Are our
fundamental rights so fickle that a citizen has
to dance to the State’s tune”, was the
caustic comment. The state filed an appeal
against the High Court ruling and the case is
pending in the Supreme Court. While we wait for
the Supreme Court verdict, it became a case of
‘winning a battle and losing the war’ for the
bar dancers. |
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Link to Article:
State Control and Sexual Morality |
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