Maharashtra allows 24/7 shops, excluding liquor shops, bars

Mumbaikars and Maharashtrians as a whole might be elated, after the state government officially allowed all shops and establishments, excluding those that sell alcohol, to operate 24 hours on all seven days of the week.

The Industries, Energy, Labour, and Mining Department has issued a circular to ensure the proper implementation of the decision. The government has clarified that nearly all shops and businesses in the state are now allowed to operate 24 hours a day, with the sole exception of establishments that sell or serve alcohol, including permit rooms, beer bars, and wine shops.

Notable, the move comes after the government received several complaints that local authorities and police were preventing businesses from operating 24/7.

Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017, businesses operating 24/7 are required to provide each employee with a mandatory weekly break of 24 continuous hours.

Moreover, the government has informed local authorities and police departments about this clarification to ensure effective implementation of the rule. Previously, theatres and cinemas were subject to regulated operating hours, but they have now been excluded.