State of Bihar - Act
The Bihar Prohibition Act, 1938
BIHAR
India
India
The Bihar Prohibition Act, 1938
Act 6 of 1938
- Published on 28 September 1938
- Commenced on 28 September 1938
- [This is the version of this document from 28 September 1938.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
Chapter I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Repeals.
- From the date on which any of the provision of this Act mentioned in the first column of the Schedule came into force in any local area, the enactments mentioned opposite such provisions in the second column of the Schedule shall cease to be in force in such area to the extent specified in the third column of the Schedule:Provided that the Governor may, by notification, declare that any of the provisions of this Act mentioned in the first column of the Schedule shall cease to be in force in any local area on such date as may be specified in the notification and thereupon the portions mentioned in the third column of the Schedule of the enactments mentioned opposite any such provision in the second column of the Schedule with any subsequent statutory modifications thereof shall revive and come into force in such area on and with effect from such date.3. Definitions.
- in this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,-Chapter II
Establishment and Control
4. Prohibition authorities and prohibition committees.
5. Appointment of Prohibition authorities and their powers and duties.
6. Prohibition authorities to be guided by orders and instructions of Provincial Government.
- In the exercise of the powers and the discharge of the duties conferred and imposed on a Prohibition Authority under sub-section (1) of Section 5, such Prohibition authority shall be guided by such orders and instructions as he may from time to time receive from the Provincial Government.7. Revision of order of Prohibition Authority.
- An order passed by a Prohibition Authority, other than the Prohibition Commissioner, under any of the provisions of this Act may be revised by the prescribed authority in the prescribed manner.Chapter III
Prohibitions and Penalties
8. Prohibition of manufacture of liquor and construction and working of distillery or brewery.
- Whoever-9. Prohibition of import, export, transport, sale, etc., of liquor.
- Whoever10. Prohibition of import, export, transport, sale, manufacture, etc., of intoxicating drug.
11. Prohibition of import, export, transport, sale, etc., of talras.
- Whoever-12. Prohibition of import, export, transport, sale, etc., of tari.
- Whoever-13. Prohibition of tapping of far.
- producing trees and drawing of tari.-Whoever-14. Exception.
- Nothing contained in Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 shall apply to any Act, done under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or the terms of any Rule, notification or order, licence or permit issued thereunder.15. Presumption on prosecution under Sections 9 and 10.
- It may be presumed until the contrary is proved, that a person accused of any offence under clause (e) of Section 9, or clause (c) of sub-section (1) Section 10 has committed such offence in respect of any stills, utensils, implement or apparatus whatsoever for the manufacture of liquor or any intoxicating drug or any such materials as are ordinarily used for the manufacture of liquor or any intoxicating drug for the possession of which he is unable to account satisfactorily.16. Permits to dispose of certain articles when Act, brought into force in any are.
- When the provisions of Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 are brought into force in any area, the Provincial Government may issue a permit to any person who was lawfully in possession on the day before such Section was so brought into force of any article, the possession or sale of which is prohibited by the said Sections, to possess and sell such articles within such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the permit.17. Permits to manufacture liquor.
- Provincial Government may issue a permit to any person to manufacture liquor in any distillery and to sell or export any liquor so manufactured to such persons or to such areas and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the permit.18. Punishment for rendering or attempting to render denatured spirit fit for human consumption.
- Whoever renders or attempts to render fit for human consumption any spirit, whether manufactured in India or not, which has been denatured, or has, in his possession, any spirit in respect of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such attempt has been made, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.For the purposes of this Section, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that any spirit which is proved on chemical analysis to contain any quantity of any of the prescribed denaturants is or contains or has been derived from denatured spirit.19. Prohibition of advertisement.
- Whoever prints or publishes in any newspaper, book, leaflet, booklet or any other single periodical publication or otherwise displays or distributes any advertisement or other matter commending, soliciting the use of or offering any liquor, tari, or intoxicating drug other than liquor, tari or drugs exempted under Section 28 shall be punished with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees:Provided that Section shall not apply to-20. Punishment for vexatious search, seizure, arrest, etc.
- Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act, who-21. Punishment for vexatious delay.
- Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act, who vexatiously and unnecessarily delays forwarding to the officer in charge of the nearest police station as required by Section 39 any person arrested or any article seized under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.22. Punishment for abetment or escape of persons arrested, etc.
- Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act, who-23. Punishment for offences not otherwise provided for.
- Whoever is guilty of any wilful act, or intentional omission in contravention of the provisions of this Act, or of any Rule, notification or order made or any permit or licence issued thereunder and not otherwise provided for in this Act, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.24. Punishment for abetment of offences against the Act.
- Where any offence against this Act, is committed in any area in which it is in force, whoever commits, or attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, any of the Acts, making up the offence shall be liable to be punished therefor, whether such commission, attempt or abetment takes place within or outside such area.25. Things liable to confiscation.
- When an offence has been committed against this Act, the liquor, [tari] [See now S.O. No. 187 dated 1.4.1991.] talras, intoxicating drug, materials, stills, utensils, implement, or apparatus in respect of or by means of which the offence was committed shall be liable to confiscation alongwith the receptacles, packages, covering, animals, vessels, carts or other vehicles used to hold or carry the same:Provided that no animal, vessel, cart or other vehicle as aforesaid shall be liable to confiscation unless the owner thereof is proved to have been implicated in the commission of the offence.26. Confiscation how ordered.
27. Offences under the Act, to be cognizable.
- All offences under this Act, shall be cognizable, and subject to the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898)] [Now see Cr.P.C. 1973 (2 of 1974).], with respect to cognizable offences shall apply to them.Chapter IV
Exemptions and Licences
28. Power to notify exemptions.
29. Exemption of bona fide travellers and lawful consignments.
- Until the Governor by notification otherwise directs, the provisions of this Act, shall not apply-30. Licence for bona fide medicinal or other purposes.
- The Provincial Government or, subject to the control of the Provincial Government, the Collector may issue licences to any person or in respect of any institution, whether under the management of Government or not, for the manufacture, export, import, transport, sale or possession of any liquor, intoxicating drug or article containing such liquor or drug, on the ground that such liquor, drug or article is required by such person or in respect of such institution for a bonafide medicinal, scientific, industrial or such like purpose:Provided that when any liquor, intoxicating drug or article containing such liquor or drug has been obtained by any person for a bona fide medicinal purpose from any person or institution licensed to sell the same under this Section, it shall not be necessary for such person to obtain a licence for the possession of the same.31. Licences for tapping for talras.
32. Permits and licences.
- The Provincial Government or any officer empowered by them in this behalf may grant-33. Exemption of liquor required for religious purposes.
- The Provincial Government may, by notification, declare that liquor or intoxicating drug required by persons other than Musalmans for bonafide religious purposes to be specified in such notification shall be exempt from all or any of the provisions of this Act, subject to such conditions, and restrictions as may be specified in such notification.34. Exemption in case of Christians on religious grounds.
- The provisions of this Act, shall not apply to the brewing, possession or use of wine by Roman Catholics and members of the Church of England for the purposes of Mass and Holy Communication in such quantity, to such an extent and under such condition as may be prescribed by the Provincial Government.35. Form and conditions of licences and permits.
- Every licence or permit granted under Sections 30, 31 or 32 shall-36. Power to cancel or suspend licences and permits.
37. Penalty for breach of the conditions of licence and permits.
- In the event of any breach by the holder of any licence or permit granted under Sections 30, 31 or 32 or by his servants or by any one acting with his express or implied permission on his behalf, of any or the terms or conditions of such licence or permit, such holder shall, in addition to the cancellation or suspension of the licence or permit granted to him, be punishable with imprisonment of either description which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both, unless he shall establish that all due and reasonable precautions were exercised by him to prevent any such breach. Any person who commits any such breach shall, whether he acts, with/without the permission of the holder of the licence or permit, be liable to the same punishment.Chapter V
Powers, Duties and Procedure of Officers, etc.
38. Prohibition Authorities may be vested with powers of Office-ln-Charge of Police station
- The Provincial Government may, be notification, invest any of the Prohibition Authorities specified in Section 4 with all or any of the powers or duties conferred or imposed by the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898)] [Now see Cr. P.C., 1973 (2 of 1974).], on the Officer-in-Charge of a Police-station in respect of investigations, arrests, searches, seizures and detention in custody for offences under this Act, and may, in such notification, specify the area within which such authority shall exercise such power:Provided that such power shall not be conferred on any officer whose rank is lower than that of Sub-Inspector.39. Arrest of offenders, seizure of contraband liquor and articles without warrant.
40. Duty of officials of all departments and local bodies to assist.
- Every officer of the Crown and every officer or servant of a local body shall be legally bound to assist any Prohibition Authority or Police Officer in carrying out the provisions of this Act.41. Offences to be reported etc.
- Every village chaukidar and dafadar shall be bound to give immediate information at the nearest police station or to a Prohibition Authority of any breach of any of the provisions of this Act which may come to his knowledge; and all such officers and servants shall be bound to take all reasonable measures in their power to prevent the commission of any such breaches which they may know or have reason to believe are about or likely to be committed.42. Landholders and others to give information.
- Every person who occupies any land or building or who is a landlord of an estate, residing in the village, on or in which there shall be any tapping for tari or manufacture of any liquor or intoxicating drug not authorised by a permit or licence issued under this Act, shall, in the absence of reasonable excuse, be bound to give notice of the same to a Magistrate or to a Prohibition Authority or to an officer of the Police as soon as such tapping or manufacture shall have come to his knowledge.43. When attendance of witnesses to be dispensed with, and procedure in such cases.
- A Police Officer or any Prohibition Authority vested with the powers of an Officer-in-Charge of a Police-station shall, instead of summoning to appear before him any person who, from sickness or other infirmity, may be unable so to do or whom, by reason of rank or sex, it may not be proper to summon, proceed to the residence of such person and thereto require him to answer such questions as he may consider necessary with respect to such inquiry; and such person shall be bound so to answer accordingly.Chapter VI
Rules and Notifications
44. Power to make Rules.
45. Effect of Rules on publication.
- AII Rules made under this Act shall be published in the Bihar Gazette and, upon such publication, shall have effect as if enacted under this Act.Chapter VII
Legal Proceedings
46. Actions against the Crown, etc.
- No action shall lie against the Crown or against any Prohibition Authority or Prohibition Committee, or against any Police or other Officer, for damages in any Civil Court for act in good faith done or ordered to be done in pursuance of this Act.[The Schedule] [Substituted by Bihar Act 6 of 1939.](See Section 2)| Provision of this Act, brought into force. | Enactments repealed. | Extent of repeal. |
| Section 8.. | The Bihar and Orissa Excise Act, 1915, and all enactments,other than the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930, amending the Bihar andOrissa Excise Act, 1915. | So far as they relate to liquor. |
| Section 9.. | The Bihar and Orissa Excise Act, 1915, and all enactments,other than the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930, amending the Bihar andOrissa Excise Act, 1915. | So far as they relate to liquor. |
| Section 10.. | The Bihar and Orissa Excise Act, 1915, and all enactmentsamending the said Act. | So far as they relate to intoxicating drugs. |
| Section 11.. | The Bihar and Orissa Excise Act, 1915, and all enactmentsamending the said Act. | So far as they relate totari. |
| Section 12.. | The Bihar and Orissa Excise Act, 1915, and all enactmentsamending the said Act. | So far as they relate totari. |