Maharashtra Pan Vendors To Hold Azad Maidan Protest On July 7 Over MCOCA Misuse
Over seven lakh pan vendors and small retail shopkeepers across Maharashtra are set to hold a massive protest march at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on July 7. Organised by the Maharashtra Pan Vyapari Mahasangh, the "Mahamorcha" and a simultaneous statewide one-day voluntary business shutdown are being held to protest the alleged misuse of stringent criminal laws, including the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), against neighbourhood traders.
The voluntary suspension of business for the day is expected to impact the livelihoods of nearly 25 lakh people who are directly and indirectly dependent on the pan trade. The association is demanding fair enforcement practices and a clear distinction between organised crime syndicates and legitimate retail businesses.
Ajit Suryavanshi, the State President and spokesperson of the Maharashtra Pan Vyapari Mahasangh, stated that the organisation supports strict enforcement against genuine criminal activities but objects to treating small traders as organised criminals.
"Our livelihood is not a crime. We are hardworking citizens who have been serving our communities for generations. MCOCA was enacted to combat organised crime syndicates. It should not be invoked against genuine neighbourhood traders who are earning an honest living through small retail businesses," Suryavanshi said.
Suryavanshi also highlighted regulatory inconsistencies regarding the products sold by pan vendors. He questioned why products that are legally manufactured, transported, and sold across most of India under the Food Safety and Standards framework face prohibition and criminal prosecution specifically in Maharashtra while remaining legally available in neighbouring states.
According to the Mahasangh, authorities have repeatedly invoked provisions like Section 328 and attempted to apply MCOCA instead of proceeding under applicable food safety laws. The association's legal counsel noted that the Bombay High Court previously examined the applicability of Section 328 in its final judgment on September 13, 2019, under Criminal Writ Petition No. 3607 of 2019. The matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court of India.
The Mahasangh stated that the repeated enforcement actions have created an atmosphere of fear among pan vendors, wholesalers, distributors, and transporters. The organisation reiterated that the July 7 protest at Azad Maidan will remain entirely peaceful and democratic, aiming to initiate a constructive dialogue with the government for legally sustainable enforcement.
