Maharashtra Govt Introduces Bill To Regulate Live Music

The Maharashtra government introduced a bill in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday to regulate live music performances in hotels, restaurants, and bar rooms. The bill, tabled by Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar, aims to bring live music performances under the same legal framework that governs dance bars.

The proposed legislation, known as 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', seeks to address a loophole in the existing licensing system. Currently, orchestra and live music permits are granted under the Maharashtra Police Act and the Public Amusement Rules. However, several establishments have allegedly been using these licences to bypass the stricter provisions of the 'Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working Therein) Act, 2016', which regulates dance performances in bars and similar establishments.

According to the government, the amendment proposes to bring live music performances, including orchestra shows, within the ambit of the 2016 Act. This means that licences for live music performances in hotels, restaurants, and bar rooms will no longer be governed by the Maharashtra Police Act. The government said the proposed changes would ensure that all entertainment performances involving live music in such establishments are subject to a uniform regulatory framework.

The move is intended to strengthen oversight, eliminate legal ambiguities, and prevent operators from exploiting separate licensing provisions to circumvent restrictions applicable to dance bars. The government aims to curb the misuse of orchestra licences for running illegal dance bars. The bill is expected to regulate live music performances in hotels, restaurants, and bar rooms, and ensure that they are subject to the same rules and regulations as dance bars.

The introduction of the bill is a significant step towards regulating the entertainment industry in Maharashtra. The government's move is expected to have a significant impact on the industry, and establishments that have been using orchestra licences to bypass regulations will have to comply with the new rules. The bill is expected to be debated and discussed in the Legislative Assembly before it is passed into law.

In recent times, there have been several instances of establishments using orchestra licences to run illegal dance bars. The government's move to regulate live music performances is expected to curb such activities and ensure that the entertainment industry in Maharashtra is subject to a uniform regulatory framework. The bill is a significant step towards protecting the dignity of women working in the entertainment industry and ensuring that establishments comply with the rules and regulations,