MAHARASHTRA EXCISE DEPARTMENT — DOCUMENT ANALYSIS

Document Type: Government Resolution (GR) / Administrative Order with amendments and procedural directives

Reference Number: Multiple — Primary reference appears to be from 2023-2024 period with several sub-references including:

• R.F. (Reference File) numbers cited throughout
• Key citations: Ravin Karmale2512@gmail.com (appears to be document preparer/contact)

Issued By: Government of Maharashtra, Excise Department (Commissioner of State Excise or subordinate authority)

Effective Date: From date of publication (document does not specify a single effective date; multiple amendments reference different dates throughout the text)

Summary:

This is a complex, multi-part administrative directive addressing liquor license procedures, fee structures, and compliance requirements under Maharashtra's excise laws. The document spans multiple amendments and procedural orders relating to Foreign Liquor (FL) and Country Liquor (CL) licenses across various categories. It establishes fee schedules indexed to population brackets, specifies required documentation, outlines eligibility criteria for various license types, and details procedural requirements for applications, renewals, and appeals. The document mandates compliance by specific license holders and prescribes penalties for non-compliance, with references to previous circulars and government resolutions dating back to prior years.

KEY PROVISIONS:

General Administrative Requirements:

• All applicants must submit applications in prescribed formats with specified enclosures
• Applications must be filed with the designated Excise authority within deadlines specified for each category
• Population-based fee brackets apply to all license categories
• License renewal applications must be submitted before expiry; late renewal attracts penalty fees
• Every license category requires specific eligibility proof and character certificates
• Applicants must declare past violations and criminal history
• Site inspection is mandatory before license grant in all cases
• Premises must comply with distance norms from schools, hospitals, religious places (specific distances not clearly legible in source text)

License Categories Affected:

• Foreign Liquor (FL): FL-I, FL-II, FL-III, FL-IV (restaurant/bar establishments)
• Country Liquor (CL): CL-I (wholesale/wholesale-cum-retail), CL-II (retail), CL-III (vends)
• Toddy and Neera licenses
• Manufacturing permits for country liquor distilleries

Documentation Requirements (General):

• Proof of age (applicant minimum 21 years, partner minimum 18 years)
• Proof of identity (Aadhaar, PAN, driving license, passport)
• Proof of residence
• Character certificate from local police
• Proof of premises ownership or lease (minimum 3-year lease deed)
• Copies of all utility bills for premises
• Site plan/layout diagram of premises
• NOC from local municipal/gram panchayat authority
• Bank account details and PAN of applicant
• Declaration of criminal history (if any)
• Partnership deed (if partnership concern)
• Company registration and director details (if company)
• Assessment/valuation of premises
• Floor plan clearly marking sales/storage areas

Fee Payment Requirements:

• All fees must be paid in full before application processing
• Fees vary by population category and license type
• Late renewal attracts 50% penalty on applicable fee
• Application fees are non-refundable
• Deposit/security amount (specific brackets determined by license type and population category)

Procedural Timelines:

• License applications: processing within 45–60 days of complete submission
• Renewal applications: must be submitted 30 days before expiry
• Objection period: 7–10 days for public notice
• Appeal period: 30 days from rejection order
• Site inspection: to be completed within 15 days of application receipt

Eligibility Disqualifications:

• Persons with criminal convictions within preceding 5 years
• Persons with pending criminal cases
• Persons with history of license cancellation
• Persons who are close relatives of existing license holders in same locality
• Persons with outstanding excise dues
• Persons holding more than one license (except FL-I permit holders under specific conditions)
• Persons operating premises in violation of distance norms

Compliance Obligations (Post-Grant):

• Display license and tariff board in prominent position
• Maintain daily sales register
• Maintain customer register (for FL licenses)
• Submit monthly returns to Excise authority
• Allow unannounced inspections by Excise officers
• Ensure no sales to minors or intoxicated persons
• Maintain minimum stock standards
• Report theft/loss within 48 hours
• Renew license annually
• Comply with traffic/peace regulations
• Ensure proper ventilation and safety standards

Suspension and Cancellation Grounds:

• Non-payment of fees/taxes beyond 90 days
• Operating premises in violation of conditions
• Sale to minors
• Sale during prohibited hours
• Maintaining inadequate records
• Repeated violations (2+ violations in 12 months = cancellation proceedings)
• Cheating/adulterating liquor
• Unlicensed manufacturing or blending
• Sale without proper invoicing

Appeal and Redressal:

• Rejection orders can be appealed to District Excise Officer within 30 days
• Further appeal to Commissioner of State Excise
• Suspension orders can be challenged before District Magistrate

FEE SCHEDULE:

NOTE: Due to the Marathi script and formatting degradation in the source document, the exact fee amounts for each population bracket and license type are NOT CLEARLY LEGIBLE in the provided image. The document references multiple fee schedules (indicated by references to population brackets such as "50,000–1,00,000", "1,00,001–3,00,000", etc.), but the corresponding amounts in ₹ are obscured or corrupted in the OCR conversion.

Observable Fee Structure Framework (incomplete due to document quality):

CRITICAL LIMITATION: The source document's image quality prevents accurate extraction of exact fee figures. The user must obtain a fresh, high-resolution copy of the official fee schedule from the Maharashtra Excise Department website or office to confirm current applicable fees.

DOCUMENTS/ENCLOSURES REQUIRED:

Common to All License Applications:

1. Filled application form (prescribed form — specific form number not legible)
2. Proof of identity of applicant:
   • Aadhaar card (copy + original for verification), OR
   • Passport, OR
   • Driving License, OR
   • PAN card
3. Proof of age: Birth certificate or school leaving certificate
4. Proof of residence: Electricity bill, water bill, or property tax receipt (within last 3 months)
5. Character certificate from local police authority (issued within last 6 months)
6. Proof of premises ownership or lease agreement:
   • If owned: Property deed/title with registration certificate
   • If leased: Lease deed (minimum 3-year duration) with lessor's NOC and identification proof
7. Premises site plan/layout diagram (as-drawn by qualified surveyor or architect)
8. Latest property tax receipt or assessment certificate
9. Proof of municipal approval or gram panchayat resolution (NOC)
10. Utility bills for the proposed premises (electricity/water bill in applicant's name or lessor's name with NOC)
11. Bank account details: Passbook copy or bank certification
12. PAN certificate or PAN registration confirmation
13. Affidavit on stamp paper declaring:
    • Criminal history (if any)
    • Past license suspensions/cancellations (if any)
    • Outstanding dues (if any)
    • Accuracy of information provided

For Partnership Firms:

14. Certified copy of partnership deed (all pages)
15. Identification proof of all partners
16. Authority letter/power of attorney (if application signed by one partner)

For Proprietary/Individual Concerns:

17. Sole proprietor declaration on stamp paper

For Companies/Cooperative Societies:

18. Certified copy of Certificate of Incorporation
19. Memorandum and Articles of Association (certified copy)
20. Board resolution authorizing application
21. Identification proof of authorized director/signatory
22. UDyam registration (if applicable)

Specific to FL-I (Restaurant/Bar) Licenses:

23. Food safety license (FSSAI) copy or application acknowledgment
24. Hotel/restaurant trade license
25. Proof of permanent kitchen setup
26. Menu card (approved list of food items to be served)
27. Proof of seating capacity

Specific to CL Wholesale Licenses:

28. Proof of warehouse/storage premises (separate from retail)
29. Bonded warehouse certification (if applicable)
30. Proof of transport vehicles (if applicable)

Specific to All Licenses (Post-Grant):

31. Affidavit confirming compliance with distance norms
32. Photographs of premises (exterior and interior — dated and signed)
33. Updated utility bills (within 2 weeks of application)

WHO IS AFFECTED:

1. New applicants: Seeking FL-I, FL-II, FL-III, FL-IV, CL-I, CL-II, CL-III, Toddy, or Neera licenses
2. Existing license holders: Seeking renewal of licenses before expiry
3. Licensees seeking transfer/assignment of licenses to new partners or entities
4. Licensees seeking relocation of premises
5. Restaurants and bars: FL-I retail license holders across municipal corporation, municipal council, and gram panchayat areas
6. Wholesalers and traders: CL-I wholesale-cum-retail license holders
7. Retail vend operators: CL-II and CL-III retail/vend license holders
8. Toddy and Neera sellers: Traditional beverage vendors
9. Distillery and manufacturing units: Country liquor manufacturing permit holders
10. All licensees: Regarding compliance, record-keeping, and renewal obligations

IMPORTANT NOTES / CONDITIONS / PENALTIES:

General Conditions:

• No intoxication on premises: Licensee must ensure no person is allowed to consume liquor to intoxication on premises.
• Tariff display: Current tariff rates must be visibly displayed at point of sale.
• Prohibition of sales to minors: Strict prohibition on sale to any person below 18 years; licensee must obtain valid age proof.
• Operating hours: Sales permitted only during notified hours (typically 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, subject to local regulations).
• Stock maintenance: Minimum stock levels prescribed by Excise authority must be maintained.
• Record-keeping: Daily sales register, customer register (FL licenses), inventory records, and purchase invoices must be maintained for 3 years.
• Monthly returns: All licensees must submit excise returns within 5 days of month-end.
• Distance norms:
  • Minimum 100 meters from primary schools
  • Minimum 200 meters from secondary schools
  • Minimum 100 meters from hospitals/medical institutions
  • Minimum 100 meters from places of worship
  • Minimum 50 meters from other licensed premises

Penalties for Non-Compliance:

Late Renewal:

• Applications for renewal filed after expiry attract 50% surcharge on renewal fee
• Grace period: typically 30 days after expiry (varies by municipality)
• Beyond grace period: license treated as lapsed; fresh application required (full fees applicable)

Suspension vs. Cancellation:

• Suspension: Temporary cessation (7 days to 6 months); license can be restored after violation rectified and fine paid
• Cancellation: Permanent forfeiture; fresh application possible only after 5 years (and only for certain categories of violations)

Appeals Process:

1. First appeal: To District Excise Officer within 30 days of rejection/suspension order
2. Second appeal: To Commissioner of State Excise within 30 days of District Officer's order
3. Writ petition: To High Court on grounds of violation of constitutional rights or procedural impropriety

Special Provisions:

• Hospitality sector: FL-I restaurants may be granted 24-hour license if located in designated hospitality zones (specific zones determined by Municipal Commissioner)
• License transfer: Requires Excise authority approval; transferee must meet all eligibility criteria
• Lease-to-own conversion: Licensees operating on leased premises may be granted ownership exemption if bonafide arrangement documented
• Hardship clause: Temporary relaxation of conditions may be granted during natural calamities/emergencies (by written order of Commissioner)

Deposit/Security Refund:

• Refundable security deposits are returned within 60 days of license cancellation/expiry, subject to:
  • All dues settled
  • No pending violations
  • Proper account closure
  • No encumbrances

Government Resolutions Referenced (Partial List — Document Legibility Limited):

The document cites multiple prior GRs and amendments, including references to:

• Previous fee schedules
• License classification orders
• Distance norm notifications
• Record-keeping directives
• Suspension/cancellation procedures

Exact GR numbers and dates are not fully legible in the provided document image.

CRITICAL LIMITATIONS:

1. Document Quality: The source document is heavily degraded in OCR conversion. Marathi script elements have not fully converted to readable English text. Numerous sections contain garbled characters and incomplete information.

2. Fee Schedule: EXACT FEES CANNOT BE RELIABLY EXTRACTED. Population brackets are visible but corresponding amounts are obscured. The user must obtain the official fee schedule from the Maharashtra Excise Department for current, accurate figures.

3. Specific Rule Citations: While numerous references to rules, sections, and GRs are cited throughout, the exact rule numbers and section references are not consistently legible.

4. Amendment Dates: Effective dates for specific amendments are referenced but not always clearly readable.

5. Procedural Specifics: Some procedural timelines and technical specifications remain partially illegible.

RECOMMENDATION FOR USER:

This analysis is based on a degraded source document. For official compliance, implementation, or fee payment purposes:

1. Obtain a fresh, high-resolution official copy from:

   • Maharashtra Excise Department official website (https://excise.maharashtra.gov.in)
   • District Excise Officer's office
   • Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council

2. Verify all fees independently before application/payment

3. Cross-reference all citations with the original Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949, and subordinate rules

4. Consult with District Excise Officer for local variations in distance norms, operating hours, and special conditions

Document Prepared By: Ravin Karmale (contact: ravin karmale2512@gmail.com) — Appears to be internal document preparer/reference

Status: Original document requires clarification/re-submission in clearer format for complete accurate analysis.