Pune, 12th September 2026: The Pune district administration has withdrawn its earlier decision to impose a 12-day blanket ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol during the Ganesh festival after the Bombay High Court questioned the rationale behind the extended restriction.
Following the court’s intervention, the administration revised the order to restrict the dry period to key festival and immersion days.
Under the revised arrangement, September 14, the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi, will remain a dry period only until 4 pm. September 25, the final immersion day, will be a full dry day, with the restriction continuing through the morning of September 26 during the immersion process.
The Pune Collector has been directed to issue a fresh order reflecting the revised restrictions.
The decision came after a bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna strongly questioned the need to keep the entire Pune district dry for 12 days.
The court acknowledged the administration’s concern about maintaining law and order during Ganeshotsav but said it could not be assumed that everyone who consumes alcohol would create a public order problem.
The bench also observed that people who create disturbances can be dealt with under existing laws, regardless of whether alcohol is involved.
The Chief Justice questioned why such an extended restriction was being imposed specifically in Pune and said the administration needed to provide a clear and rational justification for the decision.
During the hearing, the court also warned that a blanket ban lasting several days could have unintended consequences. The Chief Justice observed that suddenly stopping alcohol availability for habitual and regular drinkers could lead to health complications and potentially increase the number of patients seeking treatment at hospitals.
The court said that while maintaining public order during the festival was a legitimate objective, a blanket restriction affecting the entire district required stronger justification.
Appearing for the Pune Collector, advocate Kedar Dighe initially told the court that September 25 would be a dry day because of the final immersion procession. The petitioner’s advocate, Karl Tamboly, pointed out that dry days are generally limited to around eight to 10 days in a year.
The bench then sought clarity on whether the administration intended to keep Pune dry throughout the 14-day festival. Dighe explained that the restrictions were primarily connected to the immersion period and large-scale public celebrations.
The administration also cited concerns about law-and-order arrangements during the festival, particularly when large numbers of people take part in processions and celebrations.
The court, however, questioned whether similar concerns did not exist in other districts during Ganeshotsav and asked why Pune should face such an extensive restriction.
The bench directed the administration to obtain clear instructions and return with a precise statement on the duration of the restrictions.
During the subsequent hearing, the administration clarified that September 14 would be dry only until 4 pm, while September 25 would be a complete dry day, with the restriction continuing until the morning of September 26.
The High Court recorded the clarification and directed the Pune Collector to issue a fresh order. The revised decision effectively replaces the earlier 12-day blanket alcohol ban with restrictions focused on the first day of Ganeshotsav and the final immersion period.
