The Pune district administration has significantly scaled back its planned 10-day liquor ban during the upcoming Ganesh festival to just two days, following sharp criticism from the Bombay High Court over the selective targeting of the district.
Additional Government Pleader Kedar Dighe informed the court on Friday that alcohol sales and consumption will now be restricted only until 4 pm on September 14, the first day of the festival, and across the entirety of September 25, the final day, which already observes a routine dry day. A division bench comprising Chief Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna accepted the state’s submission and directed the Pune District Collector to issue a revised official notification.
Merchants Challenge District-Wide Restriction
The administration’s concession followed legal challenges mounted by associations representing hotel owners and retail wine shop operators. The petitioners approached the High Court to contest the Pune Collector’s initial order, which had enforced a total prohibition on liquor sales throughout the 10-day cultural celebration.
Judges Question Singling Out Pune
During Friday morning’s proceedings, the bench questioned why Pune was selected for an extended shutdown while other major urban centres, including Mumbai, faced no such measures. Warning that the court would formally intervene if authorities did not withdraw the directive, the judges observed that imposing prohibition exclusively on Pune unfairly stigmatised a civilised and educated populace by suggesting that local residents were uniquely prone to unruly behaviour after drinking.
Regulatory Balance And Commercial Impact
While acknowledging the administration’s duty to maintain public peace and prevent public nuisances, the bench stated that regulatory duties do not justify blanket curbs preventing licensed commercial operators from conducting legitimate business. The court emphasised that consuming alcohol does not inherently lead to law-and-order breaches.
The judges also observed that an extended 10-day shutdown would cause financial losses to the state excise department, while noting that an abrupt cutoff could trigger health complications among habitual drinkers and strain local healthcare facilities.
