BMC polls: Bombay High Court alters dry day ban during elections

Good news for tipplers. Bombay High Court has altered the State Excise notification which imposed a dry day on February 23. Instead, it has now been altered only up to the time of counting.

A division bench of Justice VM Kanade and Justice PR Boara altered the notification issued last month declaring February 19 to 23 as dry day. The Hotel Owners association had challenged the ban claiming it can be illegal and such measures could be only taken during Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

The court has called off the dry day on February 19 and altered it for February 23. On the two days February 20, 21 (polling day), liquor and wine shops will be closed.

The petition had challenged the notification of the State Excise department issued on January 24, declaring dry day from the evening of February 19 to 21 and on February 23. The petition claimed that the notification is "illegal, arbitrary and perverse". It would affect their business during the mentioned days and thus infringes upon their fundamental right to earn a livelihood.