Bihar plans to relax prohibition law

January 19, 2022 20:12

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Amid allegations of 'ineffective implementation' of the prohibition law and recent hooch tragedies in Bihar, the state government is planning to amend the legislation to make it less stringent, a senior official said on Wednesday.

A person who is caught drunk for the first time may not be arrested but let off after payment of a fine on the spot, said the official privy to the matter. An amendment bill is likely to be tabled in the next session of the assembly in February.

The government may bring certain changes in the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

It is considering introducing a provision of financial penalty to relax the norms.

"People who are caught in a drunken state can be let off after paying a penalty on the spot. However, it will not be applicable to repeat offenders. Failure to pay the penalty will invite simple imprisonment of one month, but repeat offences may invite additional penalty or imprisonment or both," the official said.

A person repeatedly violating the norms of liquor prohibition law would be liable to face a jail term.

The Nitish Kumar government is also considering a proposal to release a vehicle found involved in liquor violation by paying a penalty, said the official on condition of anonymity.

A proposal is also there to increase the number of courts in districts to deal with pending cases related to prohibition.

Additional chief secretary (home) Chaitanya Prasad said, "The issue was discussed during inter-departmental consultations." -- PTI

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