Chief minister Zoramthanga-led Mizoram government has been asked by the Election Commission on Thursday not to notify the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019 till completion of the general election to the Lok Sabha 2019.
The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Bill, 2019 was passed in the State Assembly recently to bring back total prohibition of liquor in the northeastern State after four years and the Mizo National Front-led government planned to impose the new law prohibiting liquor with effect from April 1.
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The additional chief electoral officer of Mizoram, Krishna Mohan Uppu, on Thursday forwarded Election Commission’s letter to the commissioner & secretary, excise & narcotics department, Mizoram, asking the Mizoram government not to notify the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Bill, 2019 till the completion of the general election to the Lok Sabha 2019 till May 27, 2019.
Also read: Mizoram goes dry again as Assembly passes Liquor Prohibition Bill 2019
The State Assembly passed the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Bill, 2019 on March 20, 2019 prohibiting manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor for the general public.
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Prohibition of liquor sales was the primary agenda of the MNF party which saw a remarkable win in the Assembly elections held in November 2018 securing 26 seats in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly.
The Bill was introduced on the floor of the State Assembly by Mizoram excise and narcotics minister K Beichhua.
Beichhua in his speech said it was necessary to introduce the Bill as the The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) Bill, 2014, which was enacted in the State, resulted in breaking many homes, claiming lives of many, decreasing efficiency in work, increasing trend of drinking alcohol among the youth and it also increased the amount of HIV/AIDS cases in the State.
The Bill on complete liquor ban was passed unanimously with the opposition voicing strong support for it.