India, Oct. 14 -- The Maharashtra government on Tuesday reduced the annual increase in licence renewal fees for orchestra bars from 10% to 5%. It also decided to defer the implementation of the licence fee hike from January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2020 and grant concessions on the fees for the Covid-19 period in 2020-2021.

Mumbai Police Commissioner's office issued a notification on December 4, 2019, announcing Rs.2 lakh as premises licence fees and an annual 10% hike for renewal. This was applicable from January 1, 2018 with retrospective effect. The Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against the order, challenging the hike and the date of new rates.

"As the matter was in court, the go...