No changes in dry day policy for Holi, Muharram and Gandhi Jayanti: Excise chief

Maharashtra Excise Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh on Tuesday dismissed reports of the state government cancelling statutory dry days for Holi Muharram and Gandhi Jayanti as fake news reported the PTIHe asserted that the existing liquor policy remains unchangedThe state excise chief clarified that the state will continue to enforce eight mandatory dry days under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act according to the PTIThe clarification has come amid reports on social media which claimed that the ban on the sale of liquor or dry days on Holi Muharram and Gandhi Jayanti had been revokedAccording to the existing rules the sale of liquor remains prohibited on January 26 Republic Day January 30 Martyrs Day May 1 Maharashtra Day Ashadhi Ekadashi August 15 Independence Day Anant Chaturdashi October 2 Gandhi JayantiProhibition Week and Kartiki EkadashiThe commissioner further stated that under section 142 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act district collectors are empowered to declare additional dry days within their respective jurisdictions the news agency reportedOfficials urged the public not to believe unverified social media posts regarding changes in excise rulesOrchestra bar licences to be cancelled for repeat violationsMaharashtra Chief Minister CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday stated that licences of orchestra bars will be cancelled in cases of repeated violations and the state government will soon introduce a legal amendmentto this effectIntervening during a debate in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during Question Hour Fadnavis recalled that the state had earlier enacted a law banning dance bars but the legislation did not stand scrutiny in the Supreme Court and was held to be unconstitutionalSubsequently the law was modified and amended to permit orchestra licences for barsldquoThe court allowed women to work in bars and we accordingly amended the rules making them more stringent However complaints of violations are still being received from areas such as Panvel in Navi Mumbairdquo CM Fadnavis saidWill be penalised for violationsHe added that in keeping with the principle of natural justice establishments would be heard and penalised for violations three to four times but in cases of repeated offences orchestra bar licences would be permanently cancelledldquoAn amendment to this effect will be introduced soon either in the current session or in the next session of the legislaturerdquo he saidFadnavis further stated that the governmentrsquos intention was to completely shut down dance bars but this could not be implemented as owners applied for orchestra licences insteadldquoWe granted permission for orchestra performances under strict rules but complaints continue to be receivedrdquo he notedwith PTI inputs