Pune Drops Ganesh Festival Liquor Ban After Court Rebuke
What Happened
The Bombay High Court pulled up the Pune administration for imposing a blanket 10-day ban on alcohol sales during the Ganesh festival, asking why only Pune was singled out while other cities, including Mumbai, faced no such restriction. After the court warned of judicial intervention, the administration withdrew the order and limited the prohibition to September 14 (festival opening day) and September 25 (final immersion day/dry day).
Key Takeaways
The court said a blanket ban unfairly stigmatized Pune residents and that authorities cannot assume every alcohol consumer creates law-and-order problems. The ruling is seen as a reminder that public-order measures must be proportionate and justified.