BMC mandates Marathi nameplates, renaming bars with religious/historic fort names in Mumbai city

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notification mandating a clear emphasis on Marathi signboards displayed outside shops and establishments in Mumbai city by May 31. Along with the diktat on the use of Marathi lettering of equal font size as any other language used on the signboard, a second condition imposed is to refrain from using the names of great personalities (religious deities) or historic forts in Maharashtra.

Beer bars and establishments serving liquor on every other street corner bearing names of deities and saints such as “Sai Leela Bar” and “Krishna Bar and Restaurant” have offended Hindu sensibilities in Mumbai city for years now.

The BMC issued notice on Friday, however, specifically states, “Establishments in which liquor is supplied or sold will not have the names of great persons or forts written on the nameplates,” and adds that a provision for the same has been made in the act.

Attempts to reach BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal or a senior state government official in the CMO for more clarity on the issue were unsuccessful.

The BMC diktat further notes, “A circular was issued recently by the Department of Shops and Establishments of BMC regarding the adoption of relevant procedures, the salient points of which are: If there are names of great personalities or forts on the nameplates of the establishments in which liquor is supplied or sold, as per the above notification, Government decision no. dated 07.04.2022, period has been given till 30.06.2022.”

“Nameplates of all shops and establishments must be written in Marathi language at the outset and the type of letters in Marathi language will not be smaller than the size of letters in any other language. Establishments in which liquor is supplied or sold will not have the names of great persons or forts written on the nameplates.”