Maharashtra ‘cheers’ SC booze ban, ignores Punj’s tipple trick

Mumbai: After the Punjab government amended the state excise act to allow clubs, hotels near highways to serve liquor, the Maharashtra government has preferred to follow the Supreme Court’s order. The industry representatives also don’t think that the state government will change its stance on the ban on the sale of liquor near highways in Maharashtra.

The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a bill to enable hotels, restaurants and other notified places near highways in the state to supply alcohol. The state cabinet had on Monday okayed a proposal to amend Section 26-A of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, for fixing the location of liquor vends on national and state highways.When asked about the Punjab government’s move, the state excise officials said that the Maharashtra government would stick to the Supreme Court’s order. “There is no such move in Maharashtra like Punjab. We will follow the orders given by the Supreme Court,” an official from the excise department said.

Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association president Adarsh Shetty said that the government had already made it clear that it will not lift the ban. “The Maharashtra government’s stand was clear that it would not denotify all the highways. It is only if any municipal corporation approaches the government then the proposal can be considered. The chief minister himself had told us the same,” Mr Shetty said.