Bombay High Court Directs Action Against Alleged Illegal Dance Bars in Calangute

The Bombay High Court at Goa, responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Calangute residents against dance bars, has instructed the state government to take action against approximately 13 structures accused of operating as ‘dance bars.’ The petitioners, including former Deputy Sarpanch Sudesh Mayekar, expressed concern that the dance bar culture was damaging the village’s reputation and leading to extortion and assaults on tourists. The court has directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board to investigate whether these structures operate without proper consent. Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira welcomed the court’s direction, noting that they had already served notices to the 13 allegedly illegal establishments.