Allowed

Lal Babu Ray v. The State of Bihar

Patna HC19 Jan 2021CWJC/887/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Patna High Court directed the appropriate authority to initiate and conclude confiscation proceedings under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 within ninety days of the petitioner's appearance. Failure to do so would result in the deemed release of the seized vehicle without further reference to the Court.

What did the court decide?

Issuance of direction to initiate and conclude confiscation proceedings within ninety days from appearance, failing which the vehicle shall be deemed released.

Lal Babu Ray Vs The State of Bihar — Motor Accident Claims | Patna HC (2021)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.887 of 2021

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Lal Babu Ray S/o Khobhari Ray, R/o-Village-Shahapur, Shitalapatti, Ward no.-4, P.S.-Sahiyara, Dist.-Sitamarhi.

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... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Excise Department, Bihar Patna.

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The Collector/District Magistrate, Sitamarhi.

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The Superintendent of Police, Sitamarhi

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The Excise Superintendent Sitamarhi.

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The Sub-Inspector, Excise Sitamarhi

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... ... Respondent/s

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====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Alok Kumar Alok, Advocate Mr.Santosh Kumar, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr.Vivek Prasad, G.P. 7 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)

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Date : 19-01-2021

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Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and

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learned counsel for the State.

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Petitioner has prayed for the following reliefs: -

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“That, this is an application for issuance of an appropriate writ order or directing the respondent concern to release the vehicle Hero Glamour Motorcycle bearing Registration No.BR30Y7025 in favour of the petitioner which has been seized in connection with case no.-C2-41/20 instituted for the offence U/Ss 30(a) Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.”

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Patna High Court CWJC No.887 of 2021 dt.19-01-2021 2/6

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Learned counsel for the petitioner prays that the petition be disposed of in terms of the judgment dated 22.12.2020, passed in Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.9592 of 2020 (Dharmendra Mahto versus The State of Bihar).

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In the case of Dharmendra Mahto (supra) this Court has referred and discussed all the previous case laws on the subject. Some of the judgments rendered in similar matters are as under:-

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(i) Md. Shaukat Ali Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors., reported in 2020(3) PLJR 927.

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(ii) Umesh Sah Versus The State of Bihar & Ors., reported in 2020(3) PLJR 931.

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(iii) Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors., reported in 2020(3) PLJR 935.

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The operating part of the judgment in the case of Md. Shaukat Ali are being briefly reproduced as under:-

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“(a) Since the vehicle in question stands seized in relation to the FIR which stood registered long ago, in case confiscation proceeding has not been initiated, it must be initiated within a period of 15 days from today and that confiscation proceeding stands initiated, we direct the appropriate authority under the Act to forthwith ensure that such proceedings be concluded not later than 30 days.

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(b) The petitioner undertakes to make himself available in the office of the concerned appropriate authority empowered under Section 58 of the Act i.e. District Collector, in his/her office on 24.01.2020 at 10:30 A.M.

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Patna High Court CWJC No.887 of 2021 dt.19-01-2021 3/6

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(c) We further direct the appropriate authority to positively conclude the confiscation proceeding within next thirty days on appearance of the petitioner. If for whatever reason, such proceeding cannot be concluded, in that event it shall be open for the authority to take such measures, as are permissible in law, for release of the vehicle in question by way of interim measure, on such terms as may be deemed appropriate, considering the attending facts and circumstances of the case.

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(d) If eventually, the appropriate authority arrives at a conclusion that the property is not liable to be confiscated, it shall be open for the petitioner to seek damages in accordance with law and have appropriate proceedings initiated against the erring officials/officers.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the certified copy of the order shall be made available to the concerned District Collector on the date so fixed.

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For future guidance, where parties have not approached this Court, we issue the following direction:-

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The expression “reasonable delay” used in Section 58 of Chapter VI of the Act, in our considered view, necessarily has to be within a reasonable time and with dispatch, which period, in our considered view, three months time is sufficient enough for any authority to adjudicate any issue, more so, when we are dealing with confiscatory proceedings.”

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The aforesaid directions were reiterated in the case of

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Umesh Sah (supra). Once again in the case of Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah (supra) this Court dealt in detail the various provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the Excise Act or the Act of 2016).

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In the recent judgment rendered by this Court in the case of Dharmendra Mahto (supra) this Court has issued further directions:-

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Patna High Court CWJC No.887 of 2021 dt.19-01-2021 4/6

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“It is seen that till date, in large number of cases, position about conclusion of the proceedings, be it under Section 58, 92 or 93 remains the same.

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We further direct that all proceedings under Section 58 must positively be initiated/concluded within a period of ninety days from the date of appearance of the parties. Further, Appeal/Revision, if any, be also decided within a period of thirty days from the date of initiation, failing which the “things” (vehicle/property/ etc.) shall be deemed to have been released in terms of several orders passed by this Court, reference whereof stands mentioned in Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah (supra ).

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Wherever confiscatory proceedings stand concluded and parties could not file the appeal/revision within the statutory period of limitation, as already stands directed in several matters, if they were to initiate such proceedings within next thirty days, the plea of limitation would not come in their way of adjudication of such proceedings on merit.”

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We find that the direction issued by this Court in the aforementioned cases are equally applicable in the facts of the present case. The F.I.R./prosecution report was lodged/filed on 14.01.2020, the vehicle was seized. Confiscation proceeding has not been initiated as yet. Because of the delay in initiation of confiscation proceeding, the vehicle is losing its road worthiness and the depreciation in the re-sale value of the vehicle is an ultimate loss to the State.

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Petitioner through learned counsel undertakes to

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Patna High Court CWJC No.887 of 2021 dt.19-01-2021 5/6

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make himself/herself available on 05.01.2021 at 10:30 A.M. before the appropriate authority which may be in the attending facts, the Collector of the Sitamarhi District. If the Collector is not himself/herself dealing with the matter on account of delegation of power or assignment of work to another officer of his/her District, he/she shall fix a date directing the parties to appear before the said officer, which date shall be not exceeding one week. Also, he/she shall inform the said authority of fixing of such date. On appearance of the petitioner through his/her learned Advocate, the appropriate authority shall consider passing any order/interim order, as the case may be, in terms of the direction of this Court.

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We clarify that convenience of parties, specially during the time of Pandemic Covid-19 is of prime importance and it shall be open for the authority to hear the parties with the use of technology, i.e. Video Conferencing facility etc.

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We only hope and expect that the Authorities under the Act shall take appropriate action at the earliest and in accordance with law, within the time schedule fixed, failing which the vehicle/property/things liable for confiscation shall be deemed to have been released without any further reference to this Court.

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Patna High Court CWJC No.887 of 2021 dt.19-01-2021 6/6

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Liberty reserved to the petitioner to take recourse to

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such remedies as are otherwise available in accordance with law

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if the need so arises subsequently.

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Petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid

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observations/directions.