Mandatory Marathi Devanagari Signboard Rule for Pune Shops: Font Size Compliance & Inspection Penalties

Understanding the Mandatory Marathi Signboard Mandate in Pune

Following historical legislative amendments to Section 36A of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017, the Government of Maharashtra mandated that the name board of every commercial establishment, shop, retail outlet, hotel, and IT office must prominently display the business name in the Marathi language in Devanagari script.

The law is uncompromising regarding typographic hierarchy: while businesses are permitted to display names in English or other languages, the Marathi Devanagari lettering must appear first and the font size of Marathi text must not be smaller than the font size of any other language on the signboard. Civic enforcement squads from PMC and PCMC conduct regular inspection drives, imposing heavy compounding fines and filing court prosecutions against violators. KOKJAGUAR Consultancy helps Pune businesses audit premises signage to ensure full compliance. Read about our civic compliance advisory services.

Key Signboard Compliance Parameters

• Devanagari Primacy: The Marathi name must be placed prominently, preferably at the top of the signboard.
• Font Proportionality: The font size of the Marathi Devanagari characters must be equal to or larger than the English font size.
• Applies Universally: Applies to all establishments, regardless of whether operating under Form F or Form G, and regardless of employee count.
• Statutory Penalties: Failure to comply invites statutory compounding fines ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹1 Lakh per establishment.