Several bar owners, including Madhavi Thackeray, the daughter-in-law of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, petitioned the Bombay High Court following the suspension of their liquor licenses. The suspensions came in the wake of a tragic accident involving a Porsche in Pune. These owners are challenging the legality of the abrupt license suspensions that have significantly impacted their businesses.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court issued a notice to the Mumbai Collector and the state Excise department, seeking their response to the petitions filed by various bar and restaurant owners. These petitions challenge the suspension of the owners’ liquor licenses, which occurred following the Pune Porsche accident.
The case will be heard by a bench of Justices Kamal Khata and Shyam Chandak on June 5.
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Among the petitioners Madhavi Thackeray, the eldest daughter-in-law of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. She approached the court against what she describes as the “illegal and high-handedness” of the authorities in shutting down bars and restaurants in South Mumbai.
Madhavi‘s husband, Bindumadhav, tragically passed away in a car accident in 1996, leaving Madhavi a widow and their two children without a father. After her husband’s death, Madhavi left the Thackeray residence and has been operating a bar and restaurant called Drumbeat in Tardeo, South Mumbai.
However, on May 27th, the Collector suspended the liquor licence of Drumbeat, forcing the establishment to temporarily close down. Madhavi filed a plea through her lawyer, Veena Thadani, stating that the licence suspension occurred despite there being no breach of regulations on her part.
This sequence of events left Madhavi, a widow supporting her family, facing significant challenges in the operation of her business. The suspension of the liquor licence, without any apparent regulatory infractions, created a difficult situation for Madhavi and her establishment.
In her plea, Madhavi Thackeray stated,
“State excise department officials visited the bar on May 24 and issued a chargesheet alleging that four problems were found with the restaurant’s functioning.”
In the chargesheet, it stated that four female waitresses were working in the restaurant past the authorized hours, liquor being served to customers without the necessary permits, copies of cash receipts not presented during the inspection, and liquor was served to customers outside the designated permit area.
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Madhavi mentioned,
“She had filed an appeal with the Commissioner of State Excise, but he had neither stayed the contested order nor scheduled a hearing for the appeal.”
She expressed uncertainty about when her restaurant would reopen, noting that the Collector’s order indicated a personal hearing would take place on June 10, after which a decision would be made. In her plea, she stated that she was incurring significant losses due to the restaurant’s closure.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing struggle between regulatory authorities and business owners in the hospitality sector. It highlights the need for a more balanced approach that ensures compliance while also supporting the growth and sustainability of businesses that are vital to Mumbai’s economy and cultural landscape.