Supreme Court gives time till July 31 to Bihar liquor co to dispose stock

NEW DELHI: Liquor manufacturers from Bihar today got an extension of two more months till July 31 from the Supreme Court for disposing of their old stocks of alcoholic beverages worth over Rs 200 crore outside the state.

Earlier, the court had extended till May 31 the deadline of April 30 for disposing of old stocks, including raw material, fixed by the Nitish Kumar government which had imposed a ban on liquor in the state from April one last year. The state government opposed the demand for extension of time, saying the firms were indulging in illegal liquor trade.     

"If they are engaging in illegal trade, then why don't you (state) check them? Do you think that once the stocks are cleared, there would be no illegal trade," the bench remarked.     

It, however, made clear to liquor firms that the deadline of July 31 would not be extended under any condition. The confederation, on May 24, had moved the apex court for extension of May 31 deadline.     

The confederation, in its fresh plea, has said it was not possible to dispose of the old stocks worth over Rs 200 crore in such a short time as due procedure is to be followed for either destroying or exporting the stocks.     

Bihar government has challenged the high court verdict of September 30, 2016, which had quashed the notification banning consumption and sale of liquor in the state.     

While assailing the September 30, 2016 high court verdict, the state government had urged the apex court to decide whether the state can impose absolute prohibition on distribution and consumption of liquor and whether an individual can claim the right to consume liquor as his or her fundamental right under the Constitution.