Mumbai, July 8 -- The Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill bringing live orchestra performances in hotels, restaurants and bars under the ambit of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act, 2016, in a bid to prevent the alleged misuse of orchestra licences to circumvent restrictions on dance bars. The Maharashtra Police and Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Amendment) Bill, 2026 shifts the licensing of live orchestra performances from the Maharashtra Police Act to the 2016 Dance Bar Act. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the government found that orchestra licences issued under the Maharashtra Police Act were increasingly being used as an alternative to dance bar licences to evade stricter rules of 2016 law. "The amendment is intended to strengthen regulation of entertainment establishments and prevent circumvention of existing legal safeguards governing dance bars," a home department official said. He added that complaints about the mushrooming of bars, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, operating under orchestra licences prompted the move. Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar said the amendment introduces stricter penalties to deter violations. "There has been a rise in violations under the guise of orchestra performances. The Maharashtra Police Act prescribes milder punishments, whereas the Dance Bar Act provides for imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of Rs.25 lakh for obscenity-related offences. Violations attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs.10 lakh," he said....