Liquor Banned in Bihar Again as SC Stays Patna HC Order

Bihar govt challenged the HC verdict which quashed the notification banning consumption & sale of liquor in State.

Supreme Court of India. (Photo: Reuters)

On Friday, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the Patna High Court judgement quashing the Bihar government's law banning sale and consumption of all types of liquor in the state.

A Bench, comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit, issued notices to all respondents, including some liquor manufacturers, on whose plea the High Court had held as illegal and unconstitutional the Nitish Kumar government's prohibition law.

The Bihar government has challenged the High Court verdict of 30 September, which had quashed the notification banning consumption and sale of liquor in the state.

However, after the law was set aside, the Nitish Kumar government came out with a new law banning the sale and consumption of liquor, which was notified on 2 October.

While assailing the 30 September High Court verdict, the Bihar government urged the court to decide whether the State can impose absolute prohibition on distribution and consumption of liquor and whether an individual can claim right to consume liquor as his or her fundamental right under the Constitution.

The Grand Secular Alliance government in Bihar had first banned manufacture, trade, sale and consumption of country-made liquor since 1 April, but later imposed a blanket ban on all types of liquor, including foreign liquor, in the state.

(With inputs from PTI)