After HC Rap, Pune District Administration Cuts 12-Day Alcohol Ban to Just 2 Days

Mumbai, 11th September 2026: Hours after the Bombay High Court pulled up the Pune district administration over its decision to impose a 12-day ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol during the Ganesh festival, the administration on Friday evening informed the court that it has decided to restrict the dry period to just two days.

Under the revised order, September 14, the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi, will be a dry period only until 4pm, while September 25, the final immersion day, will be a full dry day. The restriction will continue until the morning of September 26 during the immersion process. The Pune Collector has been directed to issue a fresh order incorporating the revised restrictions.

The development came after a bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna strongly questioned the rationale behind keeping the entire Pune district dry for 12 days.

Earlier in the day, the bench had strongly deprecated the Maharashtra government’s blanket alcohol ban, warning that such an extended restriction could have unintended consequences, including a surge in patients at hospitals.

“If these kinds of blanket orders are there, you will have a huge crowd in hospitals,” Chief Justice Tripathi observed, referring to the possible health complications faced by habitual and regular drinkers if alcohol was suddenly unavailable.

The bench acknowledged the government’s stated objective of maintaining law and order during Ganeshotsav but said it could not be presumed that everyone consuming alcohol would create a public order problem.

“We understand that your intention is to maintain law and order during the festival, but it is not as if everyone who drinks will create a law and order situation,” the Chief Justice said.

The court also observed that individuals creating law-and-order problems could be dealt with under existing laws, irrespective of whether they had consumed alcohol.

“It is a festival. Let people celebrate,” the Chief Justice said, questioning the basis for imposing a blanket restriction without a clear and rational justification.

The bench also questioned why the extended ban was being imposed specifically in Pune district.

“We seriously do not appreciate this. What message are you trying to give against a particular city?” the Chief Justice questioned.

During the subsequent hearing, advocate Kedar Dighe, appearing for the Pune Collector, told the bench that September 25 would be a dry day as it was the final day of immersion.

Advocate Karl Tamboly, appearing for the petitioner, pointed out that there are generally only around eight to 10 designated dry days in a year.

The Chief Justice then sought clarification on whether the administration intended to keep the district dry throughout the 14-day festival.

Dighe clarified that the restriction was linked to the immersion period. Asked about the rationale, he said the administration feared law-and-order issues as large numbers of women from households would come onto the streets during the festival.

“Why only Pune, which is a most civilised district?” the Chief Justice asked.

Dighe subsequently clarified that the full restriction was not for the entire period and that on some days it applied only for half a day.

The bench then asked the administration to make a clear statement on the exact duration of the restrictions and directed Dighe to obtain proper instructions.

Dighe said September 14 was also being considered in view of the large-scale celebrations as devotees bring Lord Ganesha home on that day.

“We have to take a conscious decision to ensure no law-and-order situation takes place,” he submitted.

The Chief Justice questioned whether the argument implied that law-and-order problems did not arise in other districts during the festival.

The bench directed Dighe to seek fresh instructions and return at 5pm, warning, “If you don’t make a proper statement, then we will intervene.”

When the matter was taken up again, Dighe clarified that September 14 would be a dry period only until 4pm, while September 25 would be a full dry day, with the restriction extending through the morning of September 26.

The bench recorded the clarification in its order and directed the Pune Collector to issue a fresh order.

The revised decision effectively withdraws the administration’s earlier 12-day blanket restriction on alcohol sales and consumption across Pune district, limiting it to the first day of Ganeshotsav and the final immersion period.