BMC To Act Against Shops, Hotels Without Marathi Signboards In Devanagari Script

The BMC will take action from Tuesday against hotels, shops, and other commercial establishments which haven't put up Marathi signboards in Devanagari script.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to enforce actions starting Tuesday against shops and establishments that do not display signboards in the Marathi (Devnagri) script as per the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. Additionally, the civic body will impose a penalty of Rs 2000 per staff member per shop, according to a report by Hindustan Times. In a statement released by the civic body, BMC administrator I S Chahal chaired a meeting, instructing officials to ensure strict adherence to the Supreme Court's directive mandating the use of Devanagari script for the names of shops, institutions, and hotels, alongside any other script.

This decision follows the Supreme Court's deadline on September 25, providing a two-month window for shopkeepers across Maharashtra to install Marathi signboards. Sanjog Kabare, deputy municipal commissioner (special) at BMC, emphasised that this crackdown aligns with government regulations and compliance with the SC's orders.

“We have formed teams at the ward level,” said a ward official. “The drive will start from Tuesday since Saturday, Sunday and Monday are holidays. The staff of the shop establishment department will initiate legal action as well as levy a penalty.”

BMC Officer Sanjay Sonar while speaking to ANI said,"It has been going on for a very long time that there should be a signboard in Marathi...So far, many people have acted upon our primary information to get a signboard in Marathi, some of them didn't do it and went to the Court. The Supreme Court's decision came and they were given an ultimatum of two months which also ended on November 25. Our action has started today and we found that most of them have their nameboards (Marathi signboards in Devanagari script) but since they don't have so, now we have to take action...First, we will give them a notice, and then we will check their license once they show us their license we will get to know about the number of employees and then the Court will decide (the further action)".

Originally, the apex court had set November 25 as the deadline for implementing Devnagri signboards. However, the BMC is slated to commence actions from November 28. The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on November 22 displayed banners in Mumbai hinting at an aggressive protest if the Supreme Court 'deadline' for putting up sign boards of shops and hotels in Marathi (Devnagri script) is not adhered to, according to PTI.

Thackeray has consistently emphasised the importance of having signboards in the regional language, particularly Marathi in Maharashtra.

The BMC, which initiated an inspection drive on October 10, had served notices to more than 3,000 non-compliant shops in just nine days. The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), with around five lakh shopkeepers as members, had moved the SC last year to challenge the state government’s rule mandating Marathi signboards outside every shop, big and small.

In March 2022, the state legislature passed an amendment to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, mandating all shops and establishments to display Marathi signboards with Devanagari lettering of equal size to that of English.