Mumbai: Bombay HC on Friday rapped the Pune collector for his order banning the sale of liquor in the district over 13 days of Ganesh festivities, questioning why it alone was singled out and not Mumbai and others. The collector later said the ban would be restricted to Sept 14 till 4pm and Anant Chaturdarshi on Sept 25 will be observed as a dry day.Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna were hearing two petitions by owners of wine shops and country liquor bars as well National Restaurant Association of India challenging the collector’s Sept 3 order.Their advocates, Karl Tamboly and Veena Thadani, argued that the ban was only in Pune district and no other place in the state. Last year, too, it was imposed but withdrawn, they said. They said Anant Chaturdarshi is a notified dry day across Maharashtra.“What is the rationale behind choosing only Pune? We have to deprecate this kind of practice. One district you are choosing. You are making adverse remarks against it. This is a stigma against Pune,” the CJ said.State’s advocate Kedar Dighe said the order was issued in public interest and to maintain law and order. But the judges questioned how such a “blanket order” could be issued. Dighe said immersion is on different days. “There are people who keep one-and-a-half days of the festival,” he said. Justice Sethna asked, “You are trying to say it should be for all days?” The judges then quipped: “If these kinds of blanket orders are passed, habitual drinkers will flood hospitals.” Also, they said a blanket ban would cause a revenue loss to the state excise department.The judges said it is for the state to enforce law and order. “Of course, it is a festival. They are more jubilant. You can’t conclude people are going to indulge in law and order violation,” the CJ said.The judges then asked Dighe to take instructions and inform them whether the collector will “revisit the matter”. Post lunch, Dighe said the restriction would be limited till 4pm on Sept 14, the first day of the festival, and Anant Chaturdarshi shall be observed as a dry day. Since the petitioners’ grievance was redressed, the judges disposed of the petitions.
