MAHARASHTRA EXCISE DEPARTMENT — GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

Document Type: Government Resolution (GR) — Administrative Reorganisation

Reference Number: EST-1616/Pr.Cr.200(Karyakshetra Vhatpan)/RAUSHU-1

Issued By: Government of Maharashtra, Home Department

Date of Issue: 18 June 2024

Effective Date: From date of publication (Digital signature authentication reference: 202406181650443129)

SUMMARY

This Government Resolution implements a restructured organisational framework for the Maharashtra State Excise Department following a comprehensive administrative reorganisation. The GR redefines jurisdictional boundaries for four key operational components: (1) Regional Executive Units (164 total, increased from 140); (2) District-level and Divisional Enforcement Teams (56 total, increased from 47); (3) Border Check Posts (25 total, increased from 12); and (4) Deputy Superintendent positions (48 total). The decision supersedes all previous office orders and codifies new operational jurisdictions for field-level excise administration across the state.

KEY PROVISIONS

1. REGIONAL EXECUTIVE UNITS (REGIONAL EXCISE ESTABLISHMENTS)

Structural Change:

• Previous strength: 140 regional executive units
• New strength: 164 regional executive units
• Addition: 24 new units
• Effective under revised organisational framework approved vide Government Resolution reference no. 4, dated 18.06.2024

Operational Structure:

• Each regional executive unit headed by Inspector, State Excise (unit head)
• Supported by three Deputy Inspectors (Secondary Inspectors)
• Each Deputy Inspector's jurisdiction subdivided into three sub-divisions with separately defined boundaries
• Jurisdictional boundaries for all 164 regional units specified in Appendix No. I (district-wise detailed schedule annexed)

Jurisdiction Assignment:

• Inspector's jurisdiction: Defined for each regional unit
• Three Deputy Inspectors' combined jurisdiction: Divided into three equal sub-divisions
• Sub-divisional boundaries: Formally approved and fixed

2. ENFORCEMENT TEAMS (भरारी पथके — BHARARI PATHKE)

Structural Change:

• Previous strength: 47 enforcement teams (38 district-level + 8 divisional-level + 1 state-level)
• New strength: 56 enforcement teams
• Addition: 9 new district-level enforcement teams

Jurisdiction Hierarchy:

Criteria for New Team Allocation:

• Geographic extent of district
• Proportion of liquor offences (crime volume) in district
• Requirement for additional enforcement support beyond existing capacity

Operational Authority:

• Officers and staff posted to enforcement teams have powers equivalent to Enforcement Team operations (भरारी पथक प्रमाणे कारवाई करण्याचे अधिकार)

Jurisdictional Details:

• Appendix No. II contains district-wise detailed schedule of all 56 enforcement teams and their jurisdictions

3. BORDER CHECK POSTS (BOUNDARY INSPECTION POINTS)

Structural Change:

• Previous strength: 12 border check posts
• Old supplementary posts (under integrated border check post policy): 13 posts
• New total: 25 border check posts
• Addition: 13 new posts under integrated border check post policy

Classification & Risk Assessment: All 25 posts classified into two sensitivity categories:

• Sensitive Border Check Posts (संवेदनशील सीमा तपासणी नाके)
• Highly Sensitive Border Check Posts (अत्यंत संवेदनशील सीमा तपासणी नाके)

Criteria for Classification:

• State revenue impact
• Inter-state liquor smuggling/liquor tax evasion volume
• Geographic location and accessibility
• Interstate boundary proximity

Operational Authority & Coordination:

• Officers and staff posted to border check posts have enforcement powers equivalent to enforcement teams
• Police Station Jurisdiction Coordination: Where a border check post operates within a police station's territorial jurisdiction, that police station's boundary is formally assigned to the relevant border check post for:
  • Immediate action against illicit liquor businesses
  • Criminal investigation and enforcement coordination
• Such officers/staff authorized to take immediate action (तात्काळ कारवाई) against illicit operations

Jurisdictional Details:

• Appendix No. III contains categorization and detailed schedule of all 25 border check posts and their assigned jurisdictions

4. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, STATE EXCISE — JURISDICTIONAL ASSIGNMENT

Structural Change:

• Total Deputy Superintendent positions approved: 48

Distribution:

• State-level enforcement team: 1 Deputy Superintendent (under Joint Commissioner — Enforcement & Vigilance)
• Divisional Excise Offices: 8 Deputy Superintendents (1 per divisional office, 8 divisions)
• District-level Superintendent Offices: 39 Deputy Superintendents

Allocation Methodology (District-level):

The 39 district-level Deputy Superintendent positions allocated on the basis of:

• Geographic location of district
• Interstate boundary proximity
• Volume of liquor offences (crime statistics per district)
• Number of principal licenses issued per district

Ratio Applied:

• Approximately 1 Deputy Superintendent per 822 licenses across the state
• Exception: Arid/dry districts and districts with small geographic area may not receive full-scale allocation

Jurisdictional Mapping:

• Each Deputy Superintendent's jurisdiction specified in Appendix No. IV (district-wise detailed schedule)
• Based on above criteria, jurisdictions are formally fixed

5. AUTHORITY TO MODIFY HEADQUARTERS

Provision: For purposes of administrative efficiency, office space availability, and other administrative considerations, the Commissioner of State Excise is authorized to:

• Change the headquarters location of any component unit (regional unit, enforcement team, border check post, or Deputy Superintendent office)

Limitation:

• Changes in jurisdictional boundaries are NOT permitted without explicit Government approval
• Headquarters location changes do not alter assigned territorial jurisdiction
• Any change in operational jurisdiction requires fresh Government Resolution

6. REFERENCE AND PRIOR AUTHORITY

This GR is issued in pursuance of:

All previous office orders defining territorial jurisdiction are hereby superseded by this GR.

APPENDICES (Scheduled Jurisdictional Details)

PERSONS/AUTHORITIES AFFECTED

Internal (Excise Department):

1. Commissioner, State Excise, Maharashtra
2. Joint Commissioner (Enforcement & Vigilance), State Excise
3. Divisional Commissioners, State Excise (8 divisions)
4. Superintendents, State Excise (39+ district offices)
5. Inspectors, State Excise (164 regional units)
6. Deputy Inspectors/Secondary Inspectors (492 positions = 164 units × 3 each)
7. Enforcement Team Officers and Staff (56 teams)
8. Border Check Post Officers and Staff (25 posts)
9. Deputy Superintendents, State Excise (48 positions)
10. All field-level excise personnel across Maharashtra

External (Related Agencies):

1. Police Departments (territorial police stations coordinating with assigned border check posts)
2. District Magistrates (implementation coordination)
3. Divisional Commissioners (revenue administration)

IMPORTANT CONDITIONS & OPERATIONAL NOTES

1. Jurisdictional Integrity

• Boundaries defined in Appendices I–IV are binding and mandatory
• No officer shall exercise authority outside assigned jurisdiction
• Boundary disputes resolved by immediate superior officer

2. Headquarters Mobility

• Commissioner may relocate headquarters for administrative convenience
• Jurisdictional boundaries remain unchanged unless expressly modified by fresh GR
• Office space, facilities, or administrative efficiency grounds sufficient for relocation

3. Police Coordination (Border Check Posts)

• Police station territorial boundaries formally assigned to relevant border check posts where operationally located
• This assignment is for immediate action against illicit liquor business (अवैध व्यवसायांवर तात्काळ कारवाई)
• Border check post officers/staff gain powers equivalent to enforcement teams for coordination with local police

4. Enforcement Authority

• Officers/staff at border check posts authorized to take immediate enforcement action against illegal liquor operations in assigned police station areas
• Powers equivalent to enforcement team (भरारी पथक) as per departmental regulations

5. Supersession & Continuation

• All previous office orders regarding territorial assignment are cancelled and superseded
• Existing licenses and permits continue under new jurisdictional boundaries without re-validation
• Licensing authority remains with previously issuing officer unless specifically reassigned by new order

6. Implementation Timeline

• Order effective from date of Government notification — 18 June 2024
• Digital signature reference: 202406181650443129
• Published on Maharashtra Government portal: www.maharashtra.gov.in

DISTRIBUTION / ISSUE RECORD

Issued To (Government Officials):

1. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra
2. Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister (Home Department)
3. Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister (Finance & Planning)
4. Leader of Opposition (Legislative Council/Legislative Assembly)
5. Private Secretary to Minister (State Excise)
6. Joint Secretary to Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
7. Additional Chief Secretary, State Excise Department
8. Additional Chief Secretary (Finance/Expenditure), Finance Department
9. Additional Chief Secretary (Services), General Administration Department
10. Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlements), Maharashtra
11. Commissioner, State Excise, Maharashtra State
12. All District Magistrates (all districts)
13. All Divisional Deputy Commissioners, State Excise
14. All Superintendents, State Excise (all districts)
15. All District Treasury Officers

LEGAL STATUS & AUTHENTICATION

Signatory Authority:

• Ravidra Aute
• Deputy Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
• Acting under orders of Governor of Maharashtra

Digital Authentication:

• Order executed with digital signature
• Portal Reference: www.maharashtra.gov.in
• Digital Code: 202406181650443129
• Digitally authenticated and issued

Authority of Issue:

• Government of Maharashtra, Home Department
• Powers delegated under revised organisational structure approved vide Government Resolution EST-1616/Pr.Cr.200(Karyakshetra Vhatpan)/RAUSHU-1, dated 18.06.2024

EXTRACT SUMMARY: LICENSE TYPES & OPERATIONAL IMPACT

This GR does NOT directly modify license categories or eligibility criteria but fundamentally reorganises the territorial jurisdiction within which all license categories operate:

All License Types Affected:

• Foreign Liquor Licenses (FL-I, FL-II, FL-III, FL-IV)
• Country Liquor Licenses (CL-I, CL-II, CL-III)
• Toddy licenses
• Neera licenses
• Manufacturing permits
• Wholesale dealers
• Retail dealers
• Restaurants/bars

Operational Impact:

• All licensees continue under jurisdiction of newly allocated regional executive units
• Enforcement authority shifts to new enforcement team allocation
• Appeal/grievance authority determined by new Deputy Superintendent jurisdiction
• Border operations now fall under 25 (newly allocated) border check posts instead of previous 12

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive Government Resolution restructures the operational framework of Maharashtra State Excise Department, increasing effective field-level presence by 24 regional units, 9 enforcement teams, 13 border check posts, and 9 additional deputy superintendent positions. The revised structure maintains hierarchical control while enhancing territorial coverage and inter-state smuggling prevention. All changes are effective from 18 June 2024 and supersede all previous jurisdictional orders. Detailed operational boundaries are specified in four appendices to be implemented by the Commissioner, State Excise.