Date:08/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/08/stories/2005040802200900.htm

National

Breach of privilege motion against Bar Owners' Association president

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, APRIL 7. The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today admitted a motion for breach of privilege against the president of the Bar Owners' Association, Manjit Singh Sethi, who allegedly threatened the Deputy Chief Minister, R.R. Patil, after he ordered the closure of dance bars in the State except in Mumbai.

Mr. Sudhir Mungantiwar of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who tabled the motion, demanded that the bar licence of Mr. Sethi be cancelled and he be arrested. Mr. Mungantiwar also urged the House to vote on the motion before the budget session ended.

The House admitted the motion unanimously.

The Speaker, Babasaheb Kupekar, said that prima facie the breach of privilege appeared to have taken place and referred the matter to the Privilege Committee of the Assembly.

On March 20 last, Mr. Patil had announced the closure of dance bars with performing dancing girls while replying to a calling attention motion.

He also said that a committee of officials would go into the question of bars in Mumbai.

No manpower

The step had become necessary as the police did not have enough manpower to enforce stringent rules on the functioning of the bars.

Some MLAs had also alleged that the bars had become centres of flesh trade.

The legislators, cutting across the party lines, had welcomed the closure of bars and were angered by Mr. Sethi's alleged threats.

This made Mr. Mungantiwar table the motion, which was admitted today.