Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, May 14: Mumbai Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi has warned shops, hotels and commercial establishments across the city to prominently display signboards in Marathi within one month, failing which they may face a “Shiv Sena-style” response.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) shops and establishments department on Wednesday, Ghadi said Marathi signboards in Devanagari script are mandatory as per Supreme Court directives.

The Shiv Sena corporator said strict action would be initiated against establishments violating the rule and asserted that even five-star hotels and celebrity-owned outlets would not be exempt.

“If establishments fail to comply within a month, Shiv Sena workers will respond in Shiv Sena-style as directed by party president and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde,” Ghadi warned.

According to him, Mumbai has nearly nine lakh shops and establishments, out of which 5,020 are yet to comply with the rule mandating Marathi signboards.

He said the civic body has already taken penal action against 3,114 establishments and recovered fines amounting to Rs 1.91 crore.

Ghadi also instructed officials to intensify inspections and warned that civic officials ignoring enforcement duties would themselves face action.

BMC law committee chairperson Diksha Karkar, who attended the meeting, said instructions have been issued to serve notices to all remaining non-compliant establishments and ensure compliance within a month.

She added that officials have been directed to prepare a list of violators, submit an action-taken report within 15 days, and initiate further action after the deadline expires.