Why the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra’s methanol rules? | Explained

On September 18, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned Maharashtra's rules requiring methanol to be denatured with additives before sale to non-drug manufacturers. The court deemed these measures disproportionate and lacking a sufficient connection to the issue they aimed to address. Methanol is a toxic substance widely used in various industrial applications.

Following a 1991 Mumbai tragedy where around 93 people died from consuming spurious liquor containing methanol, stricter controls were imposed. In 2011, Maharashtra amended its Poisons Rules to introduce Rules 18A and 18B, which restricted methanol purchases and mandated the addition of a bitterant and colourant. However, the addition of these denaturants rendered the methanol unsuitable for many industries.

The petitioners argued that the rules violated constitutional rights to fair treatment and the right to conduct business. The court ruled that the rules were arbitrary, disproportionate, and unreasonable, and struck them down. The court emphasized that merely verifying a Form A licence did not establish how the purchaser would use methanol, potentially preventing legitimate manufacturers from obtaining it.

Similarly, the requirement to add additives did not have a reasonable connection with preventing illicit liquor production. The court found that the rules could conflict with lawful possession of methanol under a Form B permit, rendering that permit redundant. The court concluded that the rules lacked rational justification and were violative of constitutional provisions.