Bihar Governor signs assent on prohibition law

PATNA: Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, on Wednesday, gave his assent to the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Bill, 2016 which was recently passed by both the houses- state assembly and state legislative council- during the Monsoon session.

Bihar was declared a "dry state" after the state government decided to enforce complete prohibition in the state on April 5. Later, the new bill was drafted and cleared by the state assembly in August.

Several provisions of the bill were described by the opposition parties as "draconian". According to one provision of the bill, every adult member of a family would be presumed to be aware of the offence if alcohol is consumed, manufactured sold or distributed in the premises one occupies.

Apart from setting up special courts for trial of prohibition cases, the bill also provides for imposition of collective fine on a town, village or community if there are habitual offenders of prohibition there.