Pune, India – The Pune district administration has fully revoked a 12-day prohibition on the sale of liquor during the Ganeshotsav festival, following a decisive intervention from the Bombay High Court. The initial order, which would have seen liquor sales halted for nearly two weeks, was first curtailed to two days before being entirely withdrawn.

The Bombay High Court scrutinised the district administration's directive, questioning the rationale behind such a widespread ban. A key point of contention raised by the court was the apparent lack of a logical basis for the order, particularly why Pune was singled out for such restrictions while other major regions, including Mumbai, faced no similar prohibitions during the festive period.

Hours after the High Court's critical remarks, the Pune district administration initially scaled back the ban significantly, reducing its duration from 12 days to just two. This immediate adjustment reflected the pressure from the judicial challenge and the court's insistence on a justifiable foundation for administrative orders.

However, the scrutiny did not end there. The administration ultimately opted for a complete revocation of the ban, abandoning the prohibition altogether. This final decision came as a direct consequence of the High Court's firm stance against orders issued without clear justification or that appear to apply selectively without adequate reasoning.

The Ganeshotsav festival, a prominent cultural and religious event in Maharashtra, typically sees significant public gatherings and celebrations. The now-revoked ban had aimed to restrict liquor sales throughout this period, but its implementation and underlying logic were ultimately found wanting by the judicial review.