A reversal of the ban against dance bars in Mumbai in 2005 by the Supreme Court has evoked sharp criticism from political parties.

The hotel industry is thrilled with the court decision. However, the Maharashtra Congress, the Nationalist Congress and the Bharatiya Janat Party have expressed their disapproval at keeping dance bars open.

Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP state president was quoted as saying, his party is "totally against the culture of dance bars and they must not function," reports The Business Standard.

"We shall set up a panel of lawyers, legal experts and legislators who will study it and submit report," said RR Patil, the state Home Minister of Maharashtra. Patil became popular among middle class Mumbaiites after he saw the ban enforced in 2006.

Patil was criticized heavily "as being too busy chasing dance bar girls" during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks when two gunmen enter Mumbai and brought the city to its knees, reports Zee 24 Taas.

In April, a ruling that banned dance bars as "unconstitutional" as it discriminated between dance performances in beer-bars and ordinary eateries -- which were banned -- and those in theatres, auditoriums and three-star... hotels -- which were exempted.

Although the Maharashtra state government alleges that the dance bars were facades for prostitution rings, bar and restaurants have lauded the decision to bring back bars saying that it provides jobs for 75,000 women and 50,000 men.

The bar dancers say they are happy with the decision: "We hope to live a better life now," reports local TV Channel, APB news.