Section 42 provides for payment of Rs four lakh to family members of those who died after consuming illicit liquor, and Rs two lakh is for seriously injured victims
In a first after implementation of total prohibition in Bihar on April 5, 2016, a collective fine of Rs 88 lakh has been imposed on 14 persons accused in the Gopalganj hooch tragedy, which had killed at least 19 residents of Khajurbani village in the district.
"The order, passed by the court of Gopalganj district magistrate (DM) Rahul Kumar, directs all accused, who are currently behind the bars, to pay Rs 6,28,574 each to the exchequer within a month, failing which the administration may lodge a case against them," Gopalganj excise superintendent Priyaranjan told DNA.
At least 19 people had lost their lives while six others sustained serious illnesses after drinking spurious liquor in Khajurbani village in August 2016. It was the first hooch tragedy in dry Bihar as officially accepted by the state government.
The decision has been taken as per Section 42 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, which empowers a DM to collect fine from spurious liquor manufacturer or seller in cases of any hooch tragedy and pay it as compensation to the kin of victims. Section 42 provides for payment of Rs four lakh to family members of those who died after consuming illicit liquor, and Rs two lakh is for seriously injured victims.
Accordingly, kin of the 19 who died will get Rs four lakh and six who fell sick will get Rs two lakh.
The provision of imposing collective or community fine, is among the controversial sections of Bihar's new and stringent excise law that is termed 'draconian and Talibani' by a section of the society and Opposition parties.
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