NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday modified its earlier order and allowed liquor manufacturers in Bihar to export their old stocks of alcoholic beverages worth over Rs 200 crore outside the State until July 31.
A Vacation Bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and Deepak Gupta modified their order on the plea of the manufacturers who had said the earlier order spoke only about time to destroy the stock and not about its export outside the State. A confederation of manufacturers had informed the Bench that there were two issues regarding destruction of old stocks and export in its plea filed earlier, but the apex court’s May 29 order mentioned only about time to destroy the stock.
The order had stated, “Time to destroy/drain the stocks is extended up to July 31, 2017. It is made clear that no further extension will be granted in future.” The Bihar government had imposed a ban on liquor from April 1, 2016, and passed a resolution by which it allowed the companies to export their old stocks to other states.