Maharashtra Tables Bill to Regulate Live Music Under Strict Dance Bar Laws
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the Maharashtra government introduced a Bill in the Legislative Assembly in Mumbai to regulate live music and orchestra performances in hotels, restaurants, and bar rooms under the same strict legal framework that governs dance bars. The legislation aims to close a legal loophole and prevent establishments from misusing orchestra and live music licenses to run illegal dance bars.
Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar tabled the bill, officially titled the 'Maharashtra Police and Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working Therein) (Amendment) Bill, 2026'.
The proposed legislation addresses a loophole in the current licensing system. Currently, Section 33 of the Maharashtra Police Act empowers police authorities to issue licenses for public amusement, including musical performances, dancing, and other entertainment.
Orchestra and live music permits have historically been granted under the Maharashtra Police Act and the Public Amusement Rules framed under it. However, the government observed that several establishments allegedly used these live music or orchestra licenses to bypass the stricter provisions of the 2016 Act.
The 2016 Act, formally known as the 'Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working Therein) Act, 2016', regulates dance performances in bars and similar establishments.
To stop this misuse, the new amendment proposes bringing live music performances and orchestra shows within the ambit of the 2016 Act. This means licenses for live music performances in hotels, restaurants, and bar rooms will no longer be governed by the Maharashtra Police Act.
The government stated that these changes would create a uniform regulatory framework, ensuring all entertainment performances involving live music in such establishments are subject to the same oversight. This move is intended to eliminate legal ambiguities and prevent operators from exploiting separate licensing provisions to bypass restrictions.
