Nagpur: In a significant relief to liquor traders and licence holders, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has set aside the district administration’s order imposing an extended prohibition on the sale of liquor ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. The court observed that imposing a blanket ban for several days in the name of elections was not justified under the circumstances.
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajesh Wakode struck down the order issued by the Nagpur District Collector and directed that liquor outlets remain closed only during the actual polling hours on June 18, from 8 am to 4 pm.
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June 17 ,2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
The controversy arose after District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, along with collectors of several other districts, issued orders on June 11 declaring a dry period beginning 48 hours before polling. Under the directive, all liquor shops in the district were required to remain closed from 4 pm on June 16 until the conclusion of voting on June 18.
The order also imposed a complete ban on the sale of liquor on June 22, the day of counting of votes.
Challenging the decision, associations representing liquor vendors and several private licence holders approached the High Court, arguing that the restrictions were excessive, unreasonable and financially damaging.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners informed the court that the Legislative Council election from the Local Authorities Constituency involved only around 900 voters across Nagpur district. These voters are elected representatives spread across different parts of the district and do not constitute the general electorate.
The petitioners argued that imposing a district-wide liquor ban for several days for an election involving such a limited number of voters was neither practical nor proportionate. They contended that the prolonged closure caused significant business losses to licence holders without serving any meaningful electoral purpose.
After hearing both sides, the division bench observed that the circumstances of the election did not justify such an extensive prohibition period. The court held that the administration’s order lacked proportionality and therefore could not be sustained.
Consequently, the High Court quashed the June 11 order and clarified that liquor shops would remain closed only during the designated polling hours on June 18.
The ruling has been welcomed by liquor traders and business owners, who described it as a major relief from unnecessary restrictions. Legal observers believe the judgment also sends an important message to authorities that election-related restrictions must be reasonable and proportionate to the nature and scale of the electoral process.
With the court’s intervention, the proposed prohibition on June 22, the counting day, has also effectively ceased to have any impact. Liquor sales in Nagpur district will now be regulated only during the limited polling period prescribed by the court.
The decision is expected to have wider implications for similar election-related restrictions imposed in other districts across Maharashtra.
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