Court Dockets Overwhelmed as Liquor Prohibition Cases Surge

Bihar’s judiciary is grappling with a tidal wave of cases linked to the liquor ban. More than 6.3 million matters are pending across the state’s courts, with roughly 3.7 million of them lodged in lower‑tier tribunals. Former chief justice N.V. Ramana warned that prohibition‑related filings are choking the legal system, a sentiment echoed by the Supreme Court, which noted that the backlog is hampering the functioning of the Patna High Court. The sheer volume reflects not only the continued sale and consumption of illicit spirits but also the rise in vehicle seizures and associated prosecutions.