NHRC Takes Cognizance After Bihar Student Mistakenly Consumes Illicit Liquor Stored in School Toilet

April 9, 2026 : The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a disturbing incident reported from Begusarai, where a young school student allegedly consumed illicit liquor after mistaking it for a soft drink.

According to media reports dated April 8, 2026, the incident occurred on April 6 in the Siswa area of the district. A Class 4 student reportedly found bottles stored inside a dilapidated toilet on the school premises and unknowingly consumed the contents, believing it to be a soft drink. He later returned home in an intoxicated condition, prompting his family to alert school authorities, who then informed the police.

Subsequent police action led to the seizure of 23 cartons containing approximately 204 litres of illicit liquor from the school toilet. The discovery has raised serious concerns about the safety of children and the apparent lapse in monitoring and enforcement.

Taking note of the matter, the Commission observed that if the contents of the report are accurate, they point to a grave violation of the child’s human rights. It has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of Bihar, seeking a detailed report within two weeks. The report is expected to include the current health condition of the child as well as findings from the ongoing investigation.

The incident has also drawn attention to enforcement challenges surrounding Bihar’s prohibition law, which has been in force since April 5, 2016, banning the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor in the state.