1 hr ago
Bombay High Court Forces Reversal Of Pune Ganesh Liquor Ban
Pune officials ordered a 10-day ban on selling alcohol during the Ganesh festival.
Hotel and wine-shop owners challenged the order in court.
The Bombay High Court asked why Pune alone was being targeted.
The judges said the restriction unfairly made Pune residents look bad.
They said officials must protect public order but should not automatically stop licensed businesses from operating.
The court warned that it might cancel the order if officials did not withdraw it.
Pune authorities then revoked the ban.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant said the episode showed the effects of growing majoritarian politics, while the authorities’ stated concern was maintaining law and order and preventing public nuisance.
Pune authorities revoked a 10-day liquor-sales ban imposed during the Ganesh festival.
The Bombay High Court questioned why only Pune faced the restriction while Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra did not.
The court said the ban unfairly singled out Pune residents and could not be justified as a blanket measure.
Hotel and wine-shop owners had challenged the Pune collector’s order, which was to begin on September 14.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant linked the ban to what he called the rise of majoritarian politics in Maharashtra and India.
- Who
- The Pune administration, the Bombay High Court, hotel and wine-shop owners, and Congress leader Sachin Sawant were central to the matter.
- What
- A 10-day liquor-sales ban during the Ganesh festival was revoked after the Bombay High Court criticized it.
- Where
- Pune, Maharashtra, with the case heard by the Bombay High Court.
- When
- The revocation occurred on Friday; the proposed ban was scheduled to begin on September 14.
- Why
- The administration cited law-and-order and public-nuisance concerns, while the court found the Pune-only blanket restriction insufficiently justified and unfairly discriminatory.
Critics Of The Ban
Authorities’ Public-Order Rationale
Whether Pune Should Face A Special Restriction
Critics Of The Ban
The Bombay High Court said the Pune-only ban was arbitrary, stigmatized residents, and unfairly prevented licensed establishments from doing business. Sachin Sawant also criticized the decision as reflecting majoritarian politics.
Authorities’ Public-Order Rationale
The authorities’ stated responsibility was to maintain law and order and prevent public nuisance during the festival, concerns the court acknowledged as legitimate in principle.
Scope Of Government Action
Critics Of The Ban
The court said public-order responsibilities did not justify imposing a blanket 10-day prohibition on alcohol sales.
Authorities’ Public-Order Rationale
The administration imposed the restriction as a festival-related measure, although the articles do not provide a detailed explanation for why Pune alone was selected.
Key facts
- Restriction
- A 10-day ban on liquor sales in Pune during the Ganesh festival.
- Proposed start
- September 14.
- Decision
- The Pune administration revoked the ban on Friday.
- Court
- A bench of Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard the challenge.
- Petitioners
- Hotel and wine-shop owners challenged the Pune collector’s order.
- Court’s concern
- The judges questioned why Pune was singled out while Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra faced no equivalent restriction.
- Political reaction
- Sachin Sawant called the ban a consequence of rising majoritarian politics over the past 12 years.
Quotes
Bombay High Court bench
The bench comprising Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna hearing the petitions against the ban
“Doing anything to gain power is dangerous not only for democracy but also for the social unity of the country. A government, while taking a decision, should not consider only the sentiments of the majority community. It must ensure such a decision does not adversely affect the freedom, way of life or rights of other citizens, particularly minorities”
livemint.com
“What is the rationale behind choosing only Pune? We deprecate such practice. This is a stigma on Pune residents. What are you trying to portray that only people in Pune behave badly after drinking? One district you are choosing across the state”
livemint.com
Sources
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