Notification Home RTS Department 28-12-2020

AMENDMENT SUMMARY

Gazette Reference: MIS 1017/CR229/EXC-2, dated 28th December 2020

Type of Change: Supersession and Comprehensive Update of Right to Public Services

Amended Rule/Section: Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015 (Mah. Act XXXI of 2015), Section 3(1)

Authority: Home Department (State Excise Division) notification under Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015

What Changed:

This notification supersedes three previous government notifications dated 24.11.2017, 21.12.2018, and 11.09.2019. It comprehensively updates the schedule of public services provided by the Commissioner of State Excise, Superintendents of State Excise offices, and subordinate offices across Maharashtra.

The gazette specifies stipulated time limits for processing 51 different types of excise licenses, permits, registrations, renewals, and transport passes. It also designates clear appellate hierarchies (Designated Officer → First Appellate Authority → Second Appellate Authority) for each service, ensuring accountability under the Right to Services framework.

Practical Effect: Citizens and license applicants now have legally enforceable time limits within which excise authorities must process applications. Failure to meet these timelines triggers the Right to Services Act's grievance and penalty mechanisms. The notification also clarifies jurisdictional authorities for each license type, reducing administrative ambiguity.

Key Details:

Licenses & Services Covered (51 total):

• Foreign Liquor Licenses: FL-1 (import/trade, 30 days), FL/W-1 (wine import, 30 days), FL/W-2 (wine sealed bottle, 30 days), FL/BR-2 (beer/wine retail, 60 days), FL-3 (hotel sale, 60 days), FL-4 (club sale, 60 days)

• Mild Liquor/Wine: Form-E (hotel/canteen/club, 60 days), E-2 (wine on-consumption, 60 days)

• Molasses Licenses: M-1 (producer possession/sale, 30 days), M-2 (non-producer possession, 15 days), M-3 (non-producer sale, 15 days), M-3-A (cattle feed, 15 days), M-4 (import, 7 days), M-5 (export, 7 days)

• Moha Flowers: MF-1 (possession, 15 days)

• Rectified Spirit: RS-2 (industrial/medical/scientific use, 30 days), RS-6 (retail sale, 15 days), RS-6-A (bottling, 30 days), RS-7 (bonded storage/wholesale, 30 days)

• Breweries/Wineries: BRL (microbrewery letter of intent/approval, 90 days), BRL (winery approval, 90 days)

• Country Liquor: CL/FL/TOD-3 (sealed bottle retail, 7 days), CL-1/CL-2 renewals (15 days), CL-3 shifting/transfer (30 days)

• Denatured Spirit: DS-1 (denaturation/sale, 15 days)

• Registration Certificates: Form-L (overseas manufacturer registration, 30 days), Form-K (inter-state IMFL registration, 30 days)

• Brand-Label Approvals: State liquor brands (45 days), imported L-form brands (30 days), inter-state K-form brands (30 days)

• License Renewals: All manufacturing licenses (15 days), Form-I/DS-1/PLL/BRL/CL-1/CL-2 (15 days each)

• Permits: FL-X-C (annual/lifetime consumption permit, 2 days), FL-F (one-day foreign liquor permit, immediate), CL-C (one-day country liquor permit, immediate)

• Transport Passes: Form-II (bonded spirit, 12 hours), PL-XI (foreign liquor, 12 hours), BR-IX (beer, 12 hours), CL-VI/CL-XIV (country liquor, 12 hours)

• Import/Export: Form-B (duty-paid import, 12 hours), Form-B (overseas export, 12 hours), Form-I (inter-state export, 12 hours)

• Administrative Actions: Temporary one-day license premises registration (7 days), FL-IV-A (special function license, 1 day), CL-3/FL-2 shifting (30 days), partner addition/deletion (30 days), name transfer (30 days)

Appellate Hierarchy Examples:

1. FL-3 (Restaurant License):

   • Designated Officer: Superintendent, State Excise
   • First Appellate Authority: District Collector
   • Second Appellate Authority: Commissioner, State Excise

2. Form-I (Manufacturing License Renewal):

   • Designated Officer: Joint Commissioner, State Excise
   • First Appellate Authority: Commissioner, State Excise
   • Second Appellate Authority: Principal Secretary, State Excise

3. Transport Passes (BR-IX, PL-XI, CL-XIV):

   • Designated Officer: In-Charge Officer, State Excise
   • First Appellate Authority: Superintendent, State Excise
   • Second Appellate Authority: Divisional Deputy Commissioner, State Excise

Effective Date: From the date of publication (28th December 2020)

Superseded Notifications:

• No. MIS 1017/CR229/EXC-2, dated 24.11.2017
• No. MIS 1017/CR229/EXC-2, dated 21.12.2018
• No. MIS 1017/CR229/EXC-2, dated 11.09.2019

Significance:
This is a transparency and accountability measure mandated by the Maharashtra Right to Services Act, 2015. It binds excise authorities to deliver 51 different services within specified timelines, with clearly defined appeal channels. Non-compliance can result in penalties against officials under the Act. The notification standardizes processing times across districts and eliminates discretionary delays, benefiting license applicants across manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and industrial sectors dependent on alcohol permits.