Bihar liquor firms seek more time to dispose of old stocks

Liquor manufacturers from Bihar on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court seeking extension of time to dispose of their old stocks, including raw material, lying in their ware houses.

The apex court had on March 31 granted time till May 31 to these companies to dispose of the old stocks and directed them to follow the 'resolution' passed by the Bihar government with regard to disposal of stocks following imposition of prohibition in the state.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Navin Sinha today listed the matter for hearing on May 29, after senior advocate Amit Sibal appearing for the liquor manufacturers mentioned the matter.

He said that it is not possible to dispose of the old stocks worth over Rs 200 crore in such a short period of time as due procedure is to be followed for either destroying or exporting the stocks. Sibal said that the stock is lying in the ware houses of companies and the godowns of Bihar State Beverage Corporation (BSBCL) which needs to exported to other states or destroyed.

Bihar government which has prohibited consumption, stocking and sale of liquor in the state had on March 30, passed a resolution by which it has allowed the companies to export their old stocks to other states.