Bihar liquor ban: Patna HC strikes down govt’s prohibition law, terms it ‘illegal’

Terming it ‘illegal’, the Patna High Court on Friday struck down Bihar government’s Prohibition of Liquor Act. The high court’s decision comes just days after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had roped in more than 40 lakh JD(U) workers to speak vociferously in favour of the ban.

The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Bill -2016 had strict provisions such as possible arrest of all members of a family if a liquor bottle is found in a house. In the new bill, all sections were made non-bailable, where only courts can grant bails and not police stations. If the Bill were to come into effect, only special courts have the authority to try cases related to violation of the Bihar Prohibition Law.

Earlier in the month, he had claimed that the liquor ban imposed on April 5 across the state had brought positive changes in Bihar, and had urged people to “turn off the lights and drink juice”.

Ever since the statewide liquor ban was brought in, Nitsih Kumar has been facing criticism from opposition and also sections of civil society dubbing it as “talibani and draconian”.

Source: IndianExpress