Two days after the Patna High Court struck down the liquor ban in Bihar, the Nitish Kumar-led government on Sunday introduced a fresh policy to prohibit the sale of alcohol in Bihar.
"A special state Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, on Sunday, formally approved the implementation of the new act in the state," an official in the Chief Minister's Office here said.
All ministers present in the meeting supported the government's move for the total liquor ban in the state, the official said.
Kumar, speaking to the media on Gandhi Jayanti, said that the people of Bihar were not wasting money on alcohol anymore, but are instead using it to improve their financial standing.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister appealed to the people, particularly the women, to help government agencies enforce the liquor ban in the state.
The Bihar government had announced plans to implement the stringent new Bihar Excise & Prohibition Act, 2016, from Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October before the high court pronounced its order on Friday.
As per the new prohibition law, all adult members of a family would be arrested if liquor is found stored in any household.
The state government is also set to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the high court order. "We are looking into the high court's 150-page judgement and will approach the apex court soon," Additional Advocate General Lalit Kishore said.
(With agency inputs.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)