SC order on liquor ban big relief for Bihar government

As the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Patna High Court order quashing the Bihar government's ban on liquor, the ruling JD-U, RJD and Congress alliance welcomed the "positive development".

Hailing the apex court verdict, they said it is a major move towards ensuring prohibition in the state.

In fact, the apex court order comes as a huge relief to the state government, particularly Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has repeatedly said that he would not compromise over the liquor ban.

JD-U Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: "The apex court order is a big setback for the liquor lobby and all those against the total liquor ban in Bihar. It has vindicated our stand of total liquor ban in the state."

The allies RJD and Congress also supported the Supreme Court order.

However, opposition BJP and its allies said they, of course, support the liquor ban, but are against the stringent Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 that came into force from Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

Union Minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, also said here that his party supports liquor ban but opposes the stringent Act.

Two days after the Patna High Court quashed the Bihar government's ban on liquor, which had come into force as per the old Excise and Prohibition Act from April 1, Nitish Kumar had asserted that his government would stick to the liquor ban.

Furthermore, even before the high court order came, the Bihar government had announced that it would enforce the new stringent law from October 2.

The new Act coming into force last Sunday as the state Cabinet formally approved its implementation of the new act in the state.

--IANS

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