Document Type: Government Resolution (शासन निर्णय)
Reference Number: MYS-0317/Pr.Cr.104/RAUSHU-3
Issued By: Government of Maharashtra, Home Department (महाराष्ट्र शासन, गृह विभाग)
Effective Date: 16 May 2017
Summary: This Government Resolution establishes a multi-tiered committee structure at state, district, and taluka levels to review and coordinate action against illicit liquor manufacture, transportation, and sale. The primary oversight committee is headed by the Minister of State Excise, with representation from police, health, social justice, women's organizations, and de-addiction institutions. The resolution mandates quarterly state-level reviews and triennial district-level reviews to monitor implementation of prohibition enforcement and assess the performance of Village Protection Forces (Gram Rakshak Dal) established under the Maharashtra Prohibition (Amendment) Act 2016.
Key Provisions:
STATE-LEVEL COMMITTEE (राज्यस्तरीय समिति):
• Composition (18 members):
- Minister of State Excise — Chair (अध्यक्ष)
- Minister of Social Justice and De-addiction — Member
- State Minister of State Excise — Member
- State Minister of Social Justice and De-addiction — Member
- Representative of De-addiction Institution — Member
- Representative of De-addiction Institution — Member
- Representative of Women's Organization — Member
- Representative of Women's Organization — Member
- Representative of Women's Organization — Member
- Principal Secretary, Home Department (Special) — Member
- Principal Secretary, Finance Department — Ex-officio Member (पदसिध्द सदस्य)
- Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary, State Excise — Member
- Principal Secretary, Public Health Department — Member
- Secretary/Principal Secretary, Social Justice and Special Assistance Department — Member
- Secretary/Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department — Member
- Police Commissioner-General (पोलीस महासंचालक) — Member
- Director of Health (आरोग्य संचालक) — Member
- Commissioner, State Excise — Member Secretary (सदस्य सचिव)
• State Committee Functions (कार्यक्षेत्र):
- Review action taken by Police Department and State Excise Department on illicit liquor production and sale
- Review performance of Village Protection Forces (Gram Rakshak Dal) established at village level
- Suggest effective measures to control illicit liquor business and determine implementation programs accordingly
• State Committee Meeting Frequency: Once every six months (सहा महीन्यातून एकदा)
DISTRICT-LEVEL COMMITTEE (जिल्हास्तरीय समिति):
• Composition (14 members):
- District Collector (जिल्हाधिकारी) — Chair (अध्यक्ष)
- District Superintendent of Police — Executive Chair (कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष)
- Chief Executive Officer, District Council (जिल्हा परिषद) — Member
- Woman Member of District Council — Member
- Woman Member of District Council — Member
- Representative of Voluntary Organization (स्वयंसेवी संस्था) — Member
- Representative of Voluntary Organization — Member
- Scheduled Caste Woman Member — Member
- Scheduled Tribe Woman Member — Member
- Representative of De-addiction Institution — Member
- Representative of De-addiction Institution — Member
- District Superintendent of Police — Member [Note: listed again in original document]
- Special District Social Welfare Officer — Ex-officio Member (पदसिध्द सदस्य)
- District Superintendent, State Excise — Member Secretary (सदस्य सचिव)
• District Committee Functions (कार्यक्षेत्र):
- Review cases of illicit liquor production and sale filed within the district
- Review action taken by Police Department and State Excise Department
- Review performance of Village Protection Forces (Gram Rakshak Dal) established at village level
- Review action taken under Maharashtra Police Act and Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Offenders Act 1981
- Review work of Joint Task Forces (संयुक्त पथक) established by Police and State Excise to control illicit liquor business at district level
- Review action taken against persons drinking liquor, engaging in criminal activity, and disturbing peace under Section 93 of Maharashtra Prohibition Act and Sections 55, 56, 57 of Maharashtra Police Act
- Suggest effective measures to control illicit liquor business and determine implementation programs
- Review performance of taluka-level committees headed by taluka officers (तहसीलदार) to check illicit liquor manufacture and sale
• District Committee Meeting Frequency: Once every three months (तीन महीन्यातून एकदा)
• Administrative Responsibility: Authority delegated to Deputy Commissioner-level officer at Commissioner of State Excise office
TALUKA-LEVEL COMMITTEE (तालुकास्तरीय समिति):
• Structure and jurisdiction: Committees headed by taluka officers (तहसीलदार) established to control illicit liquor manufacture, transportation, and sale
Legislative/Regulatory Basis:
• Maharashtra Prohibition (Amendment) Act 2016 — Established Village Protection Forces (Gram Rakshak Dal) at village level for effective control of illicit liquor manufacture, sale, and transportation
• Maharashtra Police Act — Sections 55, 56, 57 (suspended proceedings against offenders)
• Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Offenders Act 1981 — Applicable to illicit liquor operations
• Maharashtra Prohibition Act — Section 93 (action against persons drinking liquor and disturbing peace)
Referenced Prior Government Orders (संदर्भ):
- Government Circular No. CRM 2004/608/POL-11, dated 23 February 2005
- Government Circular No. CRM 2017/Pr.Cr.71/POL-13, dated 1 March 2017
Who Is Affected:
• State-level officials: Minister of State Excise, Police Commissioner-General, Commissioner of State Excise, all principal secretaries and secretaries of relevant departments
• District-level officials: All District Collectors, District Superintendents of Police, District Superintendents of State Excise
• Taluka-level officials: All taluka officers (तहसीलदार) and state excise staff
• De-addiction and Social Organizations: De-addiction institutions, women's organizations, voluntary organizations, scheduled caste/tribe representatives
• Village-level: Village Protection Forces (Gram Rakshak Dal) and all illicit liquor enforcement operations
Important Notes / Conditions / Penalties:
• No Fees or Financial Requirements: This is an administrative/policy document establishing committees. No fees, licenses, or financial charges are prescribed.
• Coordination Mandate: Police Department and State Excise Department must work jointly (एकत्रितपणे) on enforcement of illicit liquor prohibition
• Accountability Framework:
- State-level committee reviews all enforcement action taken by police and state excise
- District committee monitors district-level cases and coordinates enforcement
- Taluka officers maintain local-level committees for village-level control
- Deputy Commissioner-level officer at State Excise Commissioner's office supervises district committee work
• Priority Focus Areas:
- Village Protection Forces performance assessment
- Joint police-excise task force operations
- Cases under Maharashtra Prohibition Act Section 93
- Suspended proceedings under Maharashtra Police Act Sections 55-57
- Dangerous Activities Act 1981 prosecutions
• Publication:
- Document published on official Maharashtra government website (www.maharashtra.gov.in)
- Reference Code: 201705161526120729
- Authenticated by digital signature
• Distribution: Copies sent to 16 categories of officials including Chief Minister's Principal Secretary, all Ministers, Chief Secretary, all secretaries, all Police Commissioners, all District Collectors, and all de-addiction/social welfare officers
No License Types Directly Affected: This is an administrative/governance resolution. It does not amend licensee conditions for FL-I, FL-II, FL-III, FL-IV, CL-I, CL-II, CL-III, Toddy, or Neera licenses. Rather, it establishes enforcement oversight committees.