Amended Rule/Section: Section 6, Section 137(2), and Section 138 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949 (Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949)
Type of Change: Delegation of Authority / Administrative Reorganization
What Changed: This is not a substantive amendment to the Act or Rules themselves, but rather an administrative order delegating powers and functions from the State Government to the Additional Chief Secretary, State Excise (Home Department). The notification formally transfers all powers, duties, and functions vested in the State Government under subsection (2) of Section 137 (which deals with the State Government's authority to make rules and regulations) and Section 138 (which provides for power to remove difficulties) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, to a senior bureaucratic officer. Previously, these powers would have been exercised directly by the State Government through the Home Department; now they are vested in the Additional Chief Secretary as a matter of delegated authority. This means the Additional Chief Secretary can now issue rules, regulations, notifications, and orders related to excise matters without requiring separate approval from the full State Government for each decision. The practical effect is to streamline the administrative machinery for rapid decision-making and implementation of excise policy while maintaining accountability through the Additional Chief Secretary's oversight.
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