Pune scraps 12-day alcohol ban during Ganesh Chaturthi after HC says it was ‘without any rational’

The Pune administration on Friday said it was withdrawing its order imposing a 12-day restriction on the sale and consumption of alcohol during the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi after the Bombay High Court said the blanket restriction was passed “without any rational”, Live Law reported.

The collector told the court that a fresh order will be ordered restricting the dry days to September 14, the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi, and September 25, the main immersion day, Live Law reported.

The administration had earlier imposed dry-day restrictions in parts of Pune between September 14 and September 26, citing law and order concerns during the festival, Pune Mirror reported. Some areas were to have a complete ban, while others were to observe dry days on specific festival days and along immersion procession routes.

During the hearing on Friday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi said that such a long alcohol ban could lead to serious health problems for habitual drinkers.

“Hospitals will be flooding,” Tripathi was quoted as saying. Blanket orders without any rational cannot be allowed... You cannot say everyone who drinks will create a law and order situation.”

He added that anyone who consumed alcohol and disrupted law and order would “face the music”.

Edited by Sara Varghese.
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