Bill on partial ban on liquor in Bihar passed

Patna, Mar 30: A Bill providing for upto capital punishment to those manufacturing or trading illicit liquor in the event of hooch tragedy was today unanimously passed by both Bihar legislature which also adopted a resolution unanimously that its members will not consume liquor.

"Charity begins at home. If we are making a law, then we should unanimously pass a resolution from here itself.

The message of unity in the form of a resolution that we will neither drink and nor promote drinking should go out to the people," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said while intervening on Excise Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan's reply during a debate on the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

In the first phase, there will be a complete prohibition in rural areas besides a complete ban on country-made liquor across the state while Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) will be sold in limited areas of the state i.e. municipal corporations and councils. "The Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill 2016 talks about complete prohibition in the state.

The provisions of the new Bill that incorporates some stringent measures will come into effect from April 1," Kumar said. Referring to the Constitutional provision of Directive Principles of State Policy, Kumar said "it is the responsibility of the state to work towards implementing prohibition in the state.

We are moving in that direction in a strategic manner and that's why we are implementing prohibition in villages in the first phase and later prohibition will be implemented in towns in second phase after a creating a proper atmosphere in this regard."

Describing some of the stringent provisions that would work as deterrent in implementing prohibition in the state, Kumar said that those manufacturing or trading illicit liquor in the state in the event of hooch tragedy will be awarded punishment upto capital punishment.

Similarly, there is a provision for life term sentence for those who manufacture and trade illicit liquor and whose consumption makes a person disabled or cause loss to the human body, Kumar said.

PTI