Patna: Bihar has rolled out the process to amend Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 after the Supreme Court (SC) okayed the state government's request for permission to bring changes in the law that has been termed "draconian" by various quarters.

"Changes are being worked out regarding the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, at the departmental level. The process is on. We'll tell about it once everything is complete," prohibition and excise department minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav told The Telegraph.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar had recently hinted that his government was mulling changes in the Act. Sources had said there will be no rollback of prohibition. Only laws that are considered harsh would be amended.

The process began after the state government prayed before the Supreme Court for permission to do so, as hearing of cases against the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, is pending hearing there. "The entire matter related to prohibition is pending in the Supreme Court so the state government thought of taking leave from it first. We filed a petition last month," advocate general of Bihar Lalit Kishore said.

According to him, the SC said amending the law was the legislature's prerogative and "no permission was required from it... the Bihar government was free to go ahead."

Asked about the type of amendments, Lalit said: "Provisions of the Act that could be misused, or create hassles for the public would be amended." Talking of likely changes, a source hinted at provisions like seizure of building or vehicle if liquor is found, reducing period of punishment and fine for those caught drinking, punishing landlord, factory manager, owner or office in-charge if anybody on premises flouts dry law, ban on storing an unspecified quantity of jaggery, grapes, raisins at home.