Deputy Mayor Sanjay Gade on Wednesday warned that shops and other establishments, including five-star hotels and celebrity-owned outlets, are required to display banners in Marathi within a month or face a Shiv Sena-style backlash.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with BMC Shops and Institutions Department officials, Ghadi said Marathi signboards written in Devanagari script were mandatory as per the Supreme Court directions, adding that strict action would be taken against violators, news agency PTI reported.
“Be it a five-star hotel or any other establishment, Marathi signage is mandatory,” Gadi said, adding that inspections should be conducted to check compliance.
He warned of a “Shiv Sena-style” action, as directed by party president and deputy CM Eknath Shinde, if institutions fail to install prominently visible Marathi banners.
He added that more than 5,020 shops and establishments, out of a total of nine lakh in Mumbai, failed to comply with the rule mandating display of Marathi banners.
He warned that officials who ignore enforcement measures will also face action.
The BMC has so far issued notices to 3,774 institutions directing them to install Marathi banners, while 3,114 institutions have been prosecuted for non-compliance. The civic body has collected penalties of up to $191.48 lakh from violators.
BMC officials have already inspected nearly 1.58 lakh establishments across Mumbai as part of the drive. Of these institutions, around 1.53 million institutions complied with the directive, while 5,020 institutions failed to install Marathi signage despite receiving notifications.
“Demand compliance within a month,” says Diksha Karkar.
BMC Legal Committee Chairman Diksha Karkar, who was present on the occasion, said the department has been instructed to issue notices to institutions which are yet to receive them and ensure compliance within a month.
Officials have been directed to prepare a list of non-compliant institutions, submit a report on action taken within 15 days, and initiate further action after the deadline of one month, Karkar added.
She told officials that enforcement against large, high-profile entities would send a strong message and encourage small enterprises to comply with the rules voluntarily.
“If officials take action against five-star hotels and offices of large companies, shops and small establishments will automatically follow suit,” she said during the meeting.
The enforcement drive began in November 2023 after the Maharashtra government’s order imposing Marathi signage came into effect in Mumbai.
