Quashed

Sanjay Kumar Thakur v. The State Of Bihar and Ors.

Patna HC25 Jun 2019CWJC/20159/2016

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court set aside an illegal order by the Public Grievance Redressal Officer lacking jurisdiction under the Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015, regarding land encroachment. The appellate order was quashed, and the matter remanded to the Circle Officer to pass a final order under the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956 within three months.

What did the court decide?

The order dated 28.06.2016 by the Public Grievance Redressal Officer was set aside, and the appellate order of 16.09.2016 was quashed with remand to the Circle Officer.

Sanjay Kumar Thakur Vs The State Of Bihar and Ors. — Land Acquisition | Patna HC (2019)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.20159 of 2016

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Sanjay Kumar Thakur son of Sri Ram Ekbal Thakur, resident of Village and Post Office- Siriyapur, Police Station Station- Basopatti, District- Madhubani.

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... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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The State Of Bihar represented through Divisional Commissioner, Darbhanga Division, Darbhanga

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District Magistrate, Madhubani.

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Additional Collector, Madhubani.

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Subdivisional Public Grievance Redressal Officer, Subdivision Jainagar, District- Madhubani.

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Circle Officer, Basopatti, District- Madhubani.

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Rama Shankar Thakur, son of Late Niranjan Thakur, resident of Village and Post Office Siriapur, P.S. and Anchal Basopatti, District- Madhubani.

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... ... Respondent/s

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====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajay Thakur : Mr. Udbhav For the Respondent/s : Mr. Rakesh Kr. Shrivastava For respondent no. 6 : Mr. Binod Kr. Singh : Vagisha Pragya Vacaknavi ======================================================

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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHIT KUMAR SHAH ORAL ORDER

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9 25-06-2019

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The present writ petition has been filed for quashing

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the order dated 16.09.2016 passed in Encroachment Appeal no. 31 of 2016-17, whereby and whereunder the appeal has been dismissed on the ground that the appeal has not been filed in the proper format and is de hors the provisions of the Land Encroachment Act.

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It is argued by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the Circle Officer, Basopatti, Madhubani has already issued an order dated 12.09.2001 for removal of the encroachment.

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Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the

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Patna High Court CWJC No.20159 of 2016(9) dt.25-06-2019 2/4

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private respondent no. 6 submits that as far as khesra no. 2794 is concerned, he has got no objection since he is not claiming right, title or possession over the same. However, it is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the respondent no. 6 that as far as other khesra no. i.e. 2805 (old number) is concerned, the respondent no. 6 is only concerned with 17 decimals of the same, inasmuch as the same corresponds to new plot no. 4668, new khata no. 1037, 17 decimals whereof, has been carved out from the old plot no. 2805 and the same has also been recorded in the revenue records by an order dated 05.09.2008 under the Bihar Tenancy Act. It is further submitted that the State of Bihar through its Circle Officer has preferred a Title Suit claiming possession of the land in question.

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At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the aforesaid suit is a meaningless suit and since there is no stay or injunction granted by the competent court, in the said case, mere filing of the suit cannot preclude the State Government authorities from removing the encroachment over the public land/ rasta.

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This Court finds that the order dated 12.09.2001 passed by the Circle Officer, Basopatti, Madhubani cannot be said to be a final order under Section 6(1) of the Bihar Public

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Patna High Court CWJC No.20159 of 2016(9) dt.25-06-2019 3/4

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Land Encroachment Act, 1956. The respondent- State has failed to bring on record any final order passed under Section 6(1) of the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, as such this Court is of the opinion that the encroachment proceedings initiated by the Circle Officer, Basopatti, Madhubani in the year 2001 has not reached finality. It is equally pertinent to state that the order passed by the Sub-Divisional Public Grievance Redressal Officer, Subdivision Jainagar, Dist-Madhubani dated 28.06.2016 is beyond jurisdiction, inasmuch as under the Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015, the Public Grievance Redressal Officer has got no jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the issue of encroachment over the public land, inasmuch as the said power is vested with the learned Court of Circle Officer, concerned, under the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, hence the said order dated 28.06.2016 is illegal and has been passed beyond the scope of the Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015, thus is set aside. Consequently, the appellate order dated 16.09.2016 passed by the District Magistrate, Madhubani is bound to fall, hence is quashed.

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Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court deems it fit and appropriate to remand the

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Patna High Court CWJC No.20159 of 2016(9) dt.25-06-2019 4/4

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matter to the Circle Officer, Basopatti, Madhubani for passing a final order under Section 6(1) of the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, after hearing the affected parties herein as also after giving them opportunity of adducing evidence by filing appropriate document, which they may deem to be fit and proper. It is directed accordingly.

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It is expected that the Circle Officer, Basopatti, Madhubani shall conclude the proceeding under the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, as aforesaid, and pass the final order within a period of three months from today.

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The present writ petition stands disposed off with the aforesaid directions.

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(Mohit Kumar Shah, J)

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rinkee/-

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Sanjay Kumar Thakur v. The State Of Bihar and Ors.

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Sanjay Kumar Thakur v. The State Of Bihar and Ors.

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