MAHARASHTRA EXCISE GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

Document Type: Government Resolution (शासन निर्णय) / Administrative Order

Reference Number: GR No. BPA 1117/Pr.Cr.249/RAUSHU-2

Issued By: Government of Maharashtra, Home Department (गृह विभाग)

Effective Date: 07.04.2022 (Date of Issue)

• Compliance Deadline for Existing Licensees: 30.06.2022 (to change establishment names)

Summary: This Government Resolution prohibits alcohol retail establishments (mhadyavikri asthapna) from using the names of national figures (राष्ट्रपुरुष), deities (देवदेवता), Saints (संत-महात्मे), and forts/fortresses (गड/किल्ले) of Maharashtra. The decision was issued following representations from Members of the Legislative Assembly and various organizations expressing concern that naming liquor establishments after these revered national and cultural symbols constitutes disrespect (अवहेलना) to these personalities, religious beliefs, social harmony, and cultural heritage. All existing licensees operating under such names must change their establishment names by 30.06.2022.

KEY PROVISIONS

Core Prohibition:

• Alcohol retail and service establishments (मद्यविक्री अथवा मद्यपान सेवा देणार्या आस्थापना) are prohibited from using:
  1. Names of national figures (महापुरुष/महनीय व्यक्ती)
  2. Names of deities and saints (देवदेवता/संत-महात्मे)
  3. Names of national personalities (राष्ट्रपुरुष)
  4. Names of forts and fortresses (गड/किल्ले)

Rationale:

• Fort and fortresses (गड/किल्ले) are witnesses to the golden history of the State and must be protected with dignity (पवित्र्य)
• National figures and religious sites represent ideals and guidance for society (समाजासाठी आदर्श मार्गदर्शक)
• Using such names for establishments serving liquor:
  • Insults these personalities and their legacy (अवहेलना)
  • Damages religious and social sentiments (धार्मिक / सामाजिक भावनाही दुखावल्या)
  • Corrupts social and religious environment (धार्मिक ि सामाजिक वातावरण दूषित)

Implementation:

For Existing Establishments:

• Existing liquor licensees operating under prohibited names are given a grace period until 30.06.2022 to change their establishment names
• Process for name change: Applications received by licensees will be processed under Rule 8 of the Bombay Prohibition (Special Privilege Fee) Rules, 1954 (मुंबई दारूबंदी (विशेषाधिकार शुल्क) नियम, 1954)
• Authority for processing: Concerned Excise Officers (संबंधित अधिकारी) must note and process name change applications

For New Establishments:

• Implicit: No new licenses shall be granted to establishments using these prohibited names

Rules to be Amended:

• Separate notification to be issued to amend existing rules under the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 (महाराष्ट्र दारूबंदी अधिनियम, 1949)
• Amendment notification to be issued separately (अवधिकूचना स्वतंत्रपणे निर्गमित करण्यात येत आहे)

Mandatory Compliance:

• All Excise authorities, District Collectors, Excise Superintendents, and Divisional Deputy Commissioners must enforce this order
• Non-compliance with the deadline (30.06.2022) may result in license cancellation or other penalty action

Distribution & Notification:

• Order published on official Maharashtra Government website: www.maharashtra.gov.in
• Reference ID: 202204071845024429
• Order digitally signed and authenticated
• Copies forwarded to:
  • Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
  • Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister
  • Deputy Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister
  • Secretaries to all Ministers
  • Commissioner of State Excise (आयुक्त, राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क)
  • All District Collectors (सर्व जिल्हाधिकारी)
  • All Divisional Deputy Commissioners, State Excise
  • All Superintendents, State Excise

PROHIBITED NAMES — COMPLETE LIST

SECTION A: National Figures (56 Names)

1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज
2. Jijau Mai Saheb — जिजाऊ माई साहेब
3. Maharana Pratap Singh — महाराणा प्रताप सिंह
4. Ahilyabai Holkar — अहिल्यादेवी होळकर
5. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule — महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले
6. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar — डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर
7. Mahatma Gandhi — महात्मा गांधी
8. Raja Rishi Shahu Maharaj — राजऋषि शाहू महाराज
9. Savitribai Phule — सावित्रीबाई फुले
10. Swami Vivekananda — स्वामी विवेकानंद
11. Maharishi Valmiki — महर्षि वाल्मिकी
12. Mahatma Basaveshwar — महात्मा बसवेश्वर
13. Sant Sevalal Maharaj — संत सेवालाल महाराज
14. Sant Santaji Jaganade Maharaj — संत संताजी जगनाडे महाराज
15. Sant Ravidas Maharaj — संत रविदास महाराज
16. Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj — राष्ट्रसंत तुकडोजी महाराज
17. Sant Gadgebaba Maharaj — संत गाडगेबाबा महाराज
18. Raja Umaji Nayak — राजे उमाजी नाईक
19. Birsa Munda — बिरसा मुंडा
20. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak — लोकमान्य बाळ गंगाधर टिळक
21. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose — नेताजी सुभाषचंद्र बोस
22. Shahid Bhagat Singh — शहीद भगत सिंह
23. Shahid Rajguru — शहीद राजगुरु
24. Shahid Sukhdev — शहीद सुखदेव
25. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar — स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर
26. Kranti Singh Nana Patil — क्रांतिसिंह नाना पाटील
27. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru — पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरु
28. Vallabhbhai Patel — वल्लभभाई पटेल
29. Bala Shastri Jambhekar — बाळशास्त्री जांभेकर
30. Lal Bahadur Shastri — लालबहादूर शास्त्री
31. Yashwantrao Chavan — यशवंतराव चव्हाण
32. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay — पंडित दीनदयाल उपाध्याय
33. Sahitya Ratna Annabhau Sathe — साहित्यरत्न अण्णाभाऊ साठे
34. Keshav Sitaram Thakre alias Prabodhankar Thakre — केशव सितारम ठाकरे उफण प्रबोधनकार ठाकरे
35. Vinoba Bhave — विनोबा भावे
36. Swami Ramanand Tirtha — स्वामी रामानंद तीर्थ
37. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — डॉ. ए.पी.जे. अब्दुल कलाम
38. Indira Gandhi — इंदिरा गांधी
39. Balasaheb Thakre — बाळासाहेब ठाकरे
40. Vasantdada Patil — वसंतदादा पाटील
41. Vasantrao Nayak — वसंतराव नाईक
42. Dr. Bhausaheb alias Panjabrao Deshmukh — डॉ. भाऊसाहेब उफण पंजाबराव देशमुख
43. Dr. Rajendra Prasad — डॉ. राजेंद्र प्रसाद
44. Dadabhai Naoroji — दादाभाई नौरोजी
45. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan — डॉ. एस. राधाकृष्णन
46. Dr. Zakir Hussain — डॉ. झाकीर हुसेन
47. Fakruddin Ali Ahmad — फक्रुद्दीन अली अहमद
48. V.V. Giri — व्ही. व्ही. गिरी
49. Rajiv Gandhi — राजीव गांधी
50. K.R. Narayanan — के. आर. नारायणन
51. Atal Bihari Vajpayee — अटलबिहारी वाजपेयी
52. Dr. Manmohan Singh — डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह
53. Pratibha Patil — प्रतिभा पाटील
54. Pranab Mukherjee — प्रणि मुखर्जी
55. Current President of India (विद्यमान मा. राष्ट्रपती का नाव)
56. Current Prime Minister of India (विद्यमान मा. प्रधान मंत्री का नाव)

SECTION B: Maharashtra Forts and Fortresses (105 Names)

Complete List of Prohibited Fort/Fortress Names:

1. Daulatabad Fort — दौलताबाद किल्ला
2. Asadgarh Fort — असदगड किल्ला
3. Balapoor Fort — बाळापूर किल्ला
4. Narnala Fort — नरनाळा किल्ला
5. Gavilgarh Fort — गाविलगड किल्ला
6. Achalpur Fort — अचलपूर किल्ला
7. Paunar Fort — पवनी किल्ला
8. Ballarpur Fort — बल्लारपूर किल्ला
9. Bhadak Fort — भंदक किल्ला
10. Chandpur Fort — चंद्रपूर किल्ला
11. Khatoda Fort — खाटोडा किल्ला
12. Panhala Fort — पन्हाळा किल्ला
13. Tipagarh Fort — तिपागड किल्ला
14. Vairaggarh Fort — वैरागड किल्ला
15. Pratapgarh Fort — प्रतापगड किल्ला
16. Sayan Fort — सायन किल्ला
17. Bhivagarh Fort — भिवरगड किल्ला
18. Dongarthal Fort — डोंगरतळ किल्ला
19. Shivnery Fort — शिवनेरी किल्ला
20. Lohgarh Fort — लोहगड किल्ला
21. Rajmachi Fort — राजमाची किल्ला
22. Visapur Fort — विसापूर किल्ला
23. Hirakot Fort — हिराकोट किल्ला
24. Kolaba Fort — कुलाबा किल्ला
25. Viravadi Fort — विरवाडी किल्ला
26. Rajkot Fort — राजकोट किल्ला
27. Chandgarh Fort — चंद्रगड किल्ला
28. Surgurh Fort — सुरगड किल्ला
29. Ghosalgarh Fort — घोसाळगड किल्ला
30. Kadasari Fort — कडासरी किल्ला
31. Polay Fort — पोलाई किल्ला
32. Avachitgarh Fort — अवचितगड किल्ला
33. Kasa Fort — कासा किल्ला
34. Janjira Fort — जंजिरा किल्ला
35. Raigad Fort — रायगड किल्ला
36. Tal Fort — तळ किल्ला
37. Songarh Fort — सोनगड किल्ला
38. Suvarnadurg Fort — सुवर्णदुर्ग किल्ला
39. Jaigarh Fort — जयगड किल्ला
40. Sindudurg Fort — सिंधुदुर्ग किल्ला
41. Vijayadurg Fort — विजयदुर्ग किल्ला
42. Aurangzeb Fort — औरंगजेब किल्ला
43. Solapur Fort — सोलापूर किल्ला
44. Mahuli Fort — माहुली किल्ला
45. Vasai Fort — वसई किल्ला
46. Arnala Fort — अरनाळा किल्ला
47. Pawnar Fort — पवनार किल्ला
48. Malegarh Fort — मालेगाव किल्ला
49. Galna Fort — गाळणा किल्ला
50. Ankai-Tankai Fort — अंकाई-टंकाई किल्ला
51. Mulher Fort — मुल्हेर किल्ला
52. Salher Fort — साल्हेर किल्ला
53. Hatgarh Fort — हतगड किल्ला
54. Parola Fort — पारोळा किल्ला
55. Nagardhan Fort — नगरधन किल्ला
56. Umred Fort — उमरेड किल्ला
57. Manikgarh — मावणकगड
58. Baitul Wadi Fort — बैतुलवाडी किल्ला
59. Taltam Fort — तालतम किल्ला
60. Antoor Fort — अंतूर किल्ला
61. Naldurg Fort — नळदुर्ग किल्ला
62. Paranda Fort — परांडा किल्ला
63. Dharur Fort — धार्हर किल्ला
64. Dhamapuri Fort — धमापूरी किल्ला
65. Torana Fort — तोरणा किल्ला
66. Rajgad Fort — राजगड किल्ला
67. Singhad Fort — सिंहगड किल्ला
68. Kohriad Fort — कोयरीगड किल्ला
69. Sangram Durg Fort — संग्रामदुर्ग किल्ला
70. Vishalgarh — विशाळगड
71. Rangana — राणगणा
72. Bhudargarh — भुदरगड
73. Nandgiri Fort — नंदगिरी किल्ला
74. Kordhar Fort — कौ धार किल्ला
75. Mahur Fort — माहूर किल्ला
76. Pathari — पाथरी
77. Amargad — अमरगड
78. Padlela Fort — पडलेला किल्ला
79. Vadgao Fort — वडगाव किल्ला
80. Ausa — औसा
81. Udgir — उदगीर
82. Rasalgarh — रसाळगड
83. Purnagad — पूर्णगड
84. Banakot Fort — बाणकोट किल्ला
85. Yashwantgarh — यशवंतगड
86. Gopalgarh Fort — गोपाळगड किल्ला
87. Govagad Fort — गोवा किल्ला
88. Mahimtgarh Fort — मवहमतगड किल्ला
89. Mangangarh Fort — मानगड किल्ला
90. Kanala Fort — कनाळा किल्ला
91. Underi Fort — उंदेरी किल्ला
92. Khanderi Fort — खांदेरी किल्ला
93. Bharatgarh Fort — भरतगड किल्ला
94. Dutch Fort — डच वखार
95. Shigonair Fort — शिरगांव किल्ला
96. Shivdi Fort — शिवडी किल्ला
97. Dharawi Fort — धारावी किल्ला
98. Bandra Fort — बांद्रा किल्ला
99. Mahim Fort — मावहम किल्ला
100. St. George Fort — सेंट जॉर्ज किल्ला
101. Varali — वरळी
102. Khada Fort — खडा किल्ला
103. Laling Fort — लसळग किल्ला
104. Ambagad — अंबागड
105. Ghodbunder Fort — घोडबंदर किल्ला

DOCUMENTS / ENCLOSURES REQUIRED

For Name Change Applications (for existing licensees by 30.06.2022):

• Form: Application for change of establishment name (specific form not specified in this GR — to be provided separately)
• Authority to Apply to: Concerned Excise Officer (संबंधित अधिकारी)
• Processing Rule: Bombay Prohibition (Special Privilege Fee) Rules, 1954 — Rule 8
• Applicable Fee: As per Rule 8, BPSPF Rules, 1954 (fee amount not specified in this GR)

WHO IS AFFECTED

1. All existing alcohol retail establishments (मद्यविक्री आस्थापना) operating in Maharashtra under any of the prohibited names listed above

2. Specific License Categories Affected:

   • FL-I (Foreign Liquor-I) establishments
   • FL-II (Foreign Liquor-II) establishments
   • FL-III (Foreign Liquor-III) establishments
   • FL-IV (Foreign Liquor-IV) establishments
   • CL-I (Country Liquor-I) establishments
   • CL-II (Country Liquor-II) establishments
   • CL-III (Country Liquor-III) establishments
   • Toddy shops
   • Neera shops
   • Any other alcohol service establishment (मद्यपान सेवा आस्थापना)

3. Specifically Affected Locations:

   • All establishments in Municipal Corporation areas
   • All establishments in Municipal Council areas
   • All establishments in Village/Taluka areas
   • All establishments in District areas of Maharashtra

4. Licensees Required to Comply:

   • All current license holders (अनुज्ञप्तीधारक)
   • All proprietors / managers
   • All authorized representatives

IMPORTANT NOTES / CONDITIONS / PENALTIES

Grace Period & Deadline:

• Deadline for Name Change: 30.06.2022 (गत 30 दिवसांपर्यंत)
• Status after Deadline: Implied that licenses may be cancelled or penalties imposed if names are not changed

Processing of Name Change Applications:

• Must be processed under Bombay Prohibition (Special Privilege Fee) Rules, 1954, Rule 8
• Concerned Excise Officers must note and accept such applications
• Name change shall be recorded in the license itself

Penalties for Non-Compliance (Implicit):

Based on Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949:

• License suspension or cancellation
• Monetary penalties as per BPA provisions
• Legal action under liquor control laws

Special Conditions:

1. No New Licenses: Implied that new licenses cannot be granted to any establishment using prohibited names
2. Existing Licenses Only: This order applies to existing licensees. New applications must automatically be rejected if proposed names fall within prohibited list
3. Spelling Variations: Any spelling variation or transliteration of prohibited names (in Marathi, English, or other scripts) should be treated as violation

Exemptions / Special Cases:

• None explicitly stated in this GR
• However, this GR does not prohibit the existence of places with these names (e.g., localities, villages, or districts named after forts or figures) — only their use for alcohol establishments

Appeals Process:

• Not specified in this GR — to be governed by standard Excise law appeals provisions

Future Amendments:

• Separate notification to be issued amending the existing rules under the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 to legally enforce this prohibition for new establishments

IMPLEMENTATION AUTHORITIES

Who Must Enforce This Order:

1. Commissioner of State Excise (आयुक्त, राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क)
2. All District Collectors (सर्व जिल्हाधिकारी)
3. All Divisional Deputy Commissioners, State Excise (सर्व विभागीय उप आयुक्त, राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क)
4. All Superintendents, State Excise (सर्व अधीक्षक, राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क)

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION & AUTHENTICATION

• Document Repository: www.maharashtra.gov.in
• Reference ID: 202204071845024429
• Digital Signature: Applied and authenticated
• Signed By: Yuvraj B. Ajatraov, Deputy Secretary, Home Department, Government of Maharashtra
• Authority: By and under the orders of the Governor of Maharashtra

LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

Acts & Rules Referenced:

1. Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 (महाराष्ट्र दारूबंदी अधिनियम, 1949)
2. Bombay Prohibition (Special Privilege Fee) Rules, 1954 — specifically Rule 8
3. Maharashtra Country Liquor Rules, 1973 (implied)
4. Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953 (implied)

LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE

This GR establishes a policy of cultural and religious respect within the Excise framework by:

• Preventing the commodification of national heroes and cultural symbols
• Protecting religious sentiments and social harmony
• Maintaining the dignity of Maharashtra's historic forts and fortresses
• Creating a mandatory compliance deadline for existing violations
• Laying groundwork for formal rule amendments to prevent future violations

This order is binding on all Excise authorities across Maharashtra and supersedes any conflicting provisions in subordinate rules.

END OF ANALYSIS