Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Bombay High Court Forces Pune To Scale Back Festival Alcohol Ban
Pune officials planned to stop alcohol sales and consumption for much of the Ganesh festival.
Hotel owners and wine-shop owners asked the Bombay High Court to review the plan.
The judges asked why Pune was being treated differently from Mumbai and other places.
They said the ban could make people think Pune residents behaved worse than others.
Officials said the restrictions were meant to help maintain public safety and order.
The court said not everyone who drinks alcohol causes trouble.
It also said a complete ban on licensed businesses needed a proper reason.
After the judges warned that they might intervene, the administration shortened the restriction.
Alcohol was to be restricted until 4 p.m.
on September 14 and throughout September 25.
The Bombay High Court criticised Pune’s proposed 10-day or 12-day alcohol ban during the Ganesh festival.
Hotel-owner and wine-shop associations challenged the Pune Collector’s prohibition order in court.
The bench questioned why Pune alone was targeted while Mumbai and other regions faced no comparable restrictions.
The court said a blanket ban on licensed alcohol businesses lacked a logical basis and could stigmatise Pune residents.
After the court’s warning, the administration limited restrictions to September 14 until 4 p.m. and all day on September 25.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, the Pune administration, the Pune Collector, and associations representing hotel and wine-shop owners.
- What
- The court challenged Pune’s proposed festival-wide alcohol prohibition, after which the administration reduced it to two specified periods.
- When
- The hearing and revision took place on Friday, September 11; Ganesh Chaturthi began on September 14, and September 25 was identified as the main immersion day.
- Where
- Pune district, Maharashtra; the case was heard by the Bombay High Court in Mumbai.
- Why
- The Pune administration cited public safety, law enforcement, and preventing nuisance during the festival, while business associations challenged the effect of the prohibition on licensed trade.
Pune Administration’s Public-Safety Case
Court and Business Petitioners’ Objections
Purpose of the restrictions
Pune Administration’s Public-Safety Case
The administration linked the dry-day measures to public safety, law enforcement, maintaining law and order, and avoiding nuisance during the festival.
Court and Business Petitioners’ Objections
The court said it could not be assumed that every person who consumes alcohol would create a nuisance or a law-and-order problem.
Why Pune was targeted
Pune Administration’s Public-Safety Case
The administration imposed the restrictions across Pune district during the festival; the reports do not provide a further explanation for excluding other regions.
Court and Business Petitioners’ Objections
The court questioned why Pune alone was selected while Mumbai and other regions faced no comparable restrictions, saying the decision stigmatised Pune and its residents.
Scope of the ban
Pune Administration’s Public-Safety Case
The original order sought to restrict alcohol sales and consumption for most or all of the festival period.
Court and Business Petitioners’ Objections
The court said a blanket restriction preventing licensed businesses from operating for 10 or 12 days was impermissible without a rational basis, prompting the administration to reduce it to two periods.
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Bench
- Chief Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna
- Original restriction
- Reports described it as either a 10-day or 12-day alcohol restriction during the Ganesh festival.
- Revised restriction
- Alcohol sales and consumption were limited until 4 p.m. on September 14 and throughout September 25.
- Petitioners
- Associations of hotel owners and wine-shop owners
- Administration’s rationale
- Public safety, law enforcement, maintaining law and order, and avoiding nuisance
- Court’s objection
- The bench said a blanket prohibition on licensed trade could not be imposed without a logical basis.
Sources
Pune scraps 12-day alcohol ban during Ganesh Chaturthi after HC says it was ‘without any rational’
Only Pune people behave badly after drinking? HC on Ganesh festival liquor ban
HC deprecates Pune-only alcohol ban during Ganesh festival, says blanket curbs impermissible
'Why Only Pune?' Court Slams Ganeshotsav Liquor Ban, Says No Law-And-Order Link
10-day alcohol ban during Ganesh festival in Pune withdrawn after HC rebuke
