Action taken against more than 6,000 establishments in Mumbai for not displaying signboards in Marathi !

Mumbai – Between November 2023 and June 2026, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took action against 6,320 establishments that failed to display signboards in Marathi. Legal as well as penal action has been taken against all these establishments. MLA Santosh Danve raised a starred question in the Legislative Assembly on 10 July regarding the mandatory display of signboards in Marathi by all establishments in the State. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde provided written information on the matter.

1. A fine of ₹1.95 crore has been recovered from 3,861 establishments in Mumbai. ‘Offence compounding charges’ (settling a case by imposing a prescribed penalty) were collected from 1,003 establishments. Cases have been filed in court against the remaining 1,456 establishments.

2. Between November 2023 and June 2026, the administration inspected 2,00,067 establishments in Mumbai. Of these, 1,93,747 establishments had displayed signboards in Marathi.

3. Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, it is mandatory for establishments in the State to display signboards in Marathi. The Supreme Court also issued an interim order on 25 September 2023 directing all shops and establishments in Maharashtra to display signboards in Marathi.

Editorial Perspective

Making it compulsory to display signboards in Marathi is indeed a good step; however, the government should compel everyone, including itself, to introspect on how much priority every Marathi-speaking person gives to using Marathi words in daily life and to speaking Marathi in public !