HC bars coercive step for stocking alcohol

Patna: The Patna high court on Wednesday ordered the state government not to take any coercive step against liquor manufacturers, hotels and bars which have stock of alcohol.
The order was passed by a division bench of Justice Navaniti Prasad Singh and Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh while hearing the writ petition filed by Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bihar (FHRAB) and Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Company, alleging that the state government agencies are threatening to destroy their stock without giving them adequate time to dispose of their stock.
The petition alleged that the government, through its notification dated April 5, totally prohibited wholesale and retail trade and consumption of IMFL in the state in purported exercise of powers under the relevant excise law. "Without giving us adequate time, the government announced complete ban and enforcement agencies are threatening to destroy the stock," said the petition.
The court, after hearing the petitioner and the state, asked the government not to take coercive action till the time of disposal of the case. The court will hear the case again April 19.
The court also observed, "This order is purely interim and would be subject to the order that is finally passed in the writ proceeding." However, the court did not give any relief to consumers of alcohol.