Bombay HC Upholds Liquor Ban During Mumbai Polls

The Bombay High Court has decided not to stop a three-day ban on selling liquor in Mumbai during the city's municipal elections.

The ban starts on January 14 and ends on January 16, 2026.

The court said that the ban is necessary according to the law and needs more detailed discussion.

Liquor shop owners argued that the ban causes them financial loss, especially on days when there is no voting or campaigning.

The court allowed the owners to change their request to say that the law might not apply to municipal elections.

Additionally, the court rejected petitions challenging the election of unopposed candidates in municipal polls.

The petitioners argued that declaring candidates as winners without conducting voting goes against democratic principles.

The court found no merit in the petitions and stated that the election process is being carried out according to the law.

The results of unopposed candidates will be declared on January 16, along with other results.

Mumbai is voting to elect a new Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with 1,729 candidates in the fray.

The election is seen as a high-stakes three-cornered fight between the BJP-Shiv Sena, the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS, and the Congress-VBA alliances.

The undivided Shiv Sena held majority in the BMC for 26 uninterrupted years.

The last BMC election was held in 2017.

The Maharashtra government has announced a public holiday on January 15, 2026, in Mumbai to facilitate local body elections.

All banks, public offices, and central and state government offices will remain closed on the day within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation limits.

The stock market is also closed for trading on January 15, 2026, due to the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai.