Bombay High Court Allows Liquor Sales on MLC Counting Day
The Bombay High Court has ruled that liquor sales can continue on the counting day for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
Court upholds polling day restrictions but lifts dry day for counting.
Liquor vendors challenged the legality of dry day orders.
Sales will be allowed on October 27, subject to regulations.
In a significant ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has determined that liquor sales will not be suspended on the counting day for the Maharashtra Legislative Council teachers’ constituency election. This decision comes while maintaining the restrictions that apply on polling day itself.
The ruling was delivered by a division bench comprising Justices Urmila Joshi and Raj Wakode, who were addressing petitions from liquor vendors in Nagpur and Chandrapur. These vendors contested the directives issued by district administrations that mandated dry days during the election period, particularly affecting their businesses.
The district collectors had ordered that liquor shops remain closed from 4 PM on October 21 until polling concluded on October 23, and again on October 27, the designated counting day. The petitioners argued that such a blanket prohibition would negatively impact licensed businesses and questioned the legal grounds for extending the dry day to the counting day.
The court's decision preserves the existing restrictions for polling day but allows liquor vendors to operate on counting day, October 27. This ruling is significant for licensed vendors in Nagpur and Chandrapur, as it permits them to continue their sales, provided they adhere to other relevant regulations.
Looking ahead, the ruling sets a precedent for future elections, clarifying the legal framework surrounding liquor sales during polling and counting days. Vendors and stakeholders will be closely monitoring how this decision influences upcoming electoral processes in Maharashtra.
