The state government has set up a special court in Patna to try cases lodged under the new excise and prohibition law.

Additional district judge-Patna, Trilokinath Tiwari, will head the court that will function from the Patna civil court. The court will hear prohibition cases of Patna district only.

The government has also planned to set up more such courts in the state to conduct trials of those arrested under the new prohibition law.

The Patna High Court would provide officials for the special courts that will be set up across the state. The government will appoint two special public prosecutors for such courts.

Criminal lawyer Dinesh Kumar termed the step taken by the state, a worthless exercise. "This will prove to be ineffective. It will create bureaucracy. There are so many special courts for different purposes such as corruption. Has corruption stopped? By setting up special courts with prov isions of appointing two public prosecutors in such courts in the 38 districts, the move will get restricted to providing jobs to people close to the government," Dinesh said.

So far, 48,000 people have been arrested across the state since prohibition was imposed on April 5, 2016. Though a few of them got bail, more than 30,000 people are still languishing in 58 jails across the state, including eight central jails.

The new excise act enforced last year had provisions to establish special courts to deal with excise- and prohibition-related cases.

Last year, the state government had requested the high court to set up special courts in the 38 districts for speedy trial in cases related to the total ban on liquor in Bihar.

Sources in the excise department said the necessity for special courts for prohibition was felt because of a large number of arrests made by the excise department and police after the ban was imposed in Bihar.

Sources said the idea of setting up special courts for offences related to liquor will work as a better deterrent.

"On an average, over 2,500 people are being arrested every month across the state for flouting provisions of the prohibition act. The huge number made it necessary to have separate special courts for prosecution and trial. Timely punishment of violators of liquor ban will have a positive impact in the state and deter people from drinking," an excise official said.

The official added that on an average, a person accused of violating prohibition has to remain for 52 days in jail before being granted bail by the courts. The top officials of the excise department are of the opinion that arrangements should be done to increase the average jail time.