5 months ago
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The Maharashtra Government’s ‘Made successful Maharashtra’ liquor policy, which mandates bars and permit rooms to banal astatine slightest 25% locally manufactured brands, has travel nether judicial scrutiny aft the International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWA) moved the Bombay High Court challenging its validity.
The policy, notified connected August 7, 2025, introduces a caller category: Maharashtra Made Liquor (MML), with little excise work and capped pricing. Eligibility is restricted to producers headquartered successful Maharashtra, with astatine slightest 25% State-based promoters and nary overseas investment. The State says this measurement aims to boost section manufacturing and revenue, portion addressing marketplace imbalance, wherever 64% of liquor accumulation successful 2024-25 came from conscionable 9 licence holders linked to ISWA members.
Appearing for ISWA, elder advocates Darius Khambata and Rohan Shah argued that the mandate violates Article 14 and Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution by creating an artificial classification and imposing stocking obligations.
“This is not astir promoting choice; it is astir compelling businesses to enactment against marketplace demand,” Mr. Khambata submitted. ISWA represents global liquor majors including Pernod Ricard, Diageo, and Bacardi, which fearfulness the argumentation volition distort contention and restrict user choice.
The State, represented by Advocate General Milind Sathe and Government Pleader Neha Bhide, defended the policy, citing a crisp emergence successful excise gross since its rollout. According to its affidavit, collections betwixt July and November 2025 jumped from ₹9,665.64 crore successful the erstwhile twelvemonth to ₹11,299.40 crore, an summation of ₹1,633.76 crore, oregon 16.9%, compared to a 12% emergence earlier the argumentation was introduced.
“This shows affirmative maturation aft the instauration of a new policy,” the State said successful its filing. A Division Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh D. Patil have issued announcement to the State and directed it to record its affidavit-in-reply on with the survey radical study that informed the policy.
“In the meantime, until the aforesaid petition is heard, the parties are permitted, without prejudice, to instrumentality preparatory steps successful presumption of the Government determination dated August 7, 2025. Needless to state, the petitioner/parties shall not assertion immoderate equities,” the bid said. The substance is scheduled for proceeding connected December 23, 2025.
