Bihar government officials prohibited from consuming liquor even outside the state

Moving a step forward in effective implementation of booze ban, the Bihar government on Tuesday prohibited all government and judicial officials from consuming intoxicating drinks even outside the state.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Bihar cabinet on Wednesday evening in which an amendment in the Bihar Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1976, to effect necessary changes was approved by the ministers.

"At present, the service rules mandate that government officials cannot consume intoxicating drinks or drugs while on duty or at public places. The amendment has introduced two new points -- firstly, no government official will consume intoxicating drinks or drugs, and secondly, he or she will strictly adhere to it wherever they are," said state cabinet secretariat department principal secretary Brajesh Mehrotra while briefing reporters after the cabinet meet on Wednesday.

An official of Bihar general administration department explained that it meant no government official could consume liquor even on their visits outside the state or country. "If anyone is found breaching the new rules, departmental proceedings can be initiated against them and punishment, as decided by the appointing authority, can range from fine and suspension to demotion and service termination," the official said.

When asked about the how the government will find out about officials boozing outside Bihar, the official added, "Random medical tests, photographs on social media or even sting operations… if we get to know from anywhere, the erring official will be taken to task."

Bihar government officials have already pledged in writing that they will not consume liquor as well as encourage others to do the same after enforcement of total alcohol prohibition in the state on April 5.

Sources said under the present rules, any government official, who consumes liquor outside Bihar could not be tried under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. "Hence, the amended service conduct rules to punish the offenders," he said.

The state cabinet also approved the Bihar Judicial Officers Conduct Rules 2017 under which all judicial officers in the state will abide by the amended government servants conduct rules.

It may be mentioned here that a related suggestion had come up at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Lok Samwad a few days ago, in which some medical tests were suggested for IAS and IPS officials that would detect liquor even after three months of consumption. "Of the 22,000 and odd people arrested under the dry law, none is an IAS or IPS official," it was stated.