SC stays order striking down Bihar govt's liquor ban policy

The Supreme Court, on Friday, stayed Patna High Court's recent judgement, setting aside Bihar government's law banning the sale and consumption of liquor.

The Bihar government had moved the apex court on Monday against the High Court order quashing the its April 5 order on prohibition, describing it as ultra vires of Constitution.

After the HC order, the unfazed state government brought out a new law, banning liquor, with more harsh provisions like, the arrest of all adults in the event of recovery of contraband from their house on Gandhi Jayanti. But the new policy was also challenged.

On April 5, 2016, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a complete ban on alcohol in the state with immediate effect. Kumar was fulfilling a promise he had made to the women on November 26, before the state assembly elections.

In June, Kumar had claimed that there was a drastic decline in the percentage of crimes in the two months after a complete prohibition was imposed in the state. "Heinous crimes have come down by 15% in last two months," he had said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwani Upadhaya's plea, seeking a complete ban on liquor across the nation.