The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim relief to a liquor vendors’ association challenging a government order imposing a three-day ban on the sale of liquor—both country and foreign—from January 14 to 16 in Mumbai, ahead of the civic body elections. The ban, ordered by the Mumbai Collector, covers the day before polling, polling day on January 15, and counting day on January 16.

A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri declined to stay the order, observing that the challenge raised by the Association of Progressive Retail Liquor Vendors required detailed examination. The association has questioned the applicability of Section 135-C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to municipal elections. The court issued notice to the Maharashtra government and sought its response.

The state government told the court that the prohibition was imposed in view of the ongoing Municipal Corporation elections and would be lifted immediately after the results are declared on January 16. The government also clarified that vote counting generally concludes within two to three hours, and the ban would not continue for the entire day.

Counsel for the petitioner association argued that the nearly two-and-a-half-day ban would cause significant financial losses to licensed liquor vendors and was unnecessary, particularly on January 14, when no polling or campaigning is scheduled. They contended that the restriction should be limited to polling hours, citing previous High Court orders that allowed liquor sales before polling and after counting. After hearing both sides, the bench refused to grant interim relief and directed the parties to file their replies before March.