Pune Liquor Curbs: Bombay High Court Disposes Pleas After State Says 14 September Ban Ends at 4 pm

The petitions were filed by Janardhan G Thorat and others and by the National Restaurant Association of India against the Collector of Pune and another, and the Collector, State Excise, Pune and another. The matter was heard at length on the merits in the first session (para 1). Counsel for the petitioner relied on an interim order of 15 September 2023 in Washim District Liquor Bar Association v. State of Maharashtra, concerning dry days ordered under Section 142(1) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, and on a Nagpur Bench order of 13 April 2023 granting interim relief, and sought similar indulgence (paras 2-3).

The written order contains no ruling on the merits. It records that in the second session the Additional Government Pleader, on instructions, stated that 25 September 2026 shall be observed as a ‘Dry Day’ and that the prohibition on retail liquor sale shall continue to operate on 14 September 2026 till 4.00 pm, and asked for the petition to be disposed of in view of those instructions (para 4). The petitioner's counsel then accepted that the grievance was redressed and did not press the petition in the light of the State's statement (para 5). The Bench disposed of the petition "With the above observations and directions" (para 6).