Bihar’s new service rules bar government employees from consuming liquor

The employees and judicial officers of the Bihar state government may now stand to lose their jobs if found consuming alcohol or drugs in any form.

The decision was taken during the state’s cabinet meeting on 15 February 2017, which was chaired by Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Key Highlights

• At the meeting, the cabinet approved an amendment to the Bihar Government Employee Conduct Rules, 1976 and also approved a new provision-Bihar Judicial Officers Conduct Rules, 2017.

• According to the new provisions, no judicial officer or state government official will be allowed to be under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating drink of drug, regardless of where they are.

• The move was made to ensure that the state officials strictly adhere to the provisions of total prohibition.

• Violators of the rule will be faced with departmental proceedings.

Throwing more light on the new amendments, the state’s Cabinet Secretary Brajesh Malhotra said that the earlier rules forbade the state employees from consuming any kind of intoxicant while at work or in a public place but according to the new rules, they will not be allowed to consume any kind of liquor or drug in any part of the state.

Besides this, the Bihar officials will also have to abide by the prohibition rules in other states where they are in force. So, they may be faced with proceedings if they defy the prohibition laws in states such as Gujarat, Nagaland and Kerala.

The Nitish Kumar government had enforced a complete ban on the sale and consumption of liquor in the state in April 2016.