Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told the state assembly on Tuesday that municipal corporations lack the legal authority to pass resolutions revoking liquor licences, deeming such actions invalid. Responding to a calling attention notice by Panvel BJP MLA Prashant Thakur, who sought to enforce a 2023 Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) resolution declaring Kharghar a no-liquor zone, Pawar clarified that only a formal petition following prescribed procedures can trigger prohibition measures.

Pawar, who oversees finance and state excise, emphasized that while the government respects Kharghar’s demand for an alcohol-free zone, “there’s no provision under existing rules for municipal resolutions to cancel liquor licences.” He noted that a 2008-2009 notification allows prohibition if 25% of voters or women electors in a ward submit a written request, followed by a secret ballot where over 50% support a ban. Only then can a District Collector cancel licences.

“While I personally believe alcohol consumption should be avoided, citizens in a democracy have the freedom to choose,” Pawar said, highlighting past prohibition efforts in some Maharashtra districts and other states. He cautioned that youths in dry districts often procure liquor illegally from neighboring areas. Since 1972, no new liquor licences have been issued, though transfers are permitted with due process.

Also Read: Over 400 Join NCP in Mumbai, Bolstering Ajit Pawar’s Tribal Outreach

The Kharghar resolution, passed amid local protests against liquor shops, has sparked debate on X, with some residents praising the push for prohibition, while others argue it infringes personal freedoms. Pawar assured that any valid petition for prohibition in Kharghar would be addressed per the rules, urging adherence to legal processes over symbolic resolutions.

Also Read: Maharashtra Man Nabbed for ₹2.45 Crore Stock Market Scam in Goa