Petitioner challenged confiscation of vehicle carrying illicit liquor. Court disposed of writ petition, granting liberty to benefit from amended Rule 12(A) of 2022 for vehicle release upon penalty, while expressly reserving opinion on case merits.
Writ petition disposed with liberty to avail remedy under amended Rule 12(A) of 2022; no opinion on merits.
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.673 of 2022
======================================================
Jai Narayan Sahani S/o Moti Lal, R/o Village Chopan, P.S. Chopan Adulganj, District-Sonbhadra, State-U.P.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Krishna Murari, Adv For the Respondent/s : Mr.Vivek Prasad (Gp7) ======================================================
(The proceedings of the Court are being conducted by Hon’ble the Chief Justice /Hon’ble Judges through Video Conferencing from their residential offices/residences. Also, the Advocates and the Staffs joined the proceedings through Video Conferencing from their residences /offices.)
CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR )
Date : 01-04-2022
Heard learned counsel for the parties.
Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):-
“That this civil writ application is being filed in the nature of certiorari writ for setting aside the order dated 06.12.2021 passed in Excise Revision No. 237/2021 in which learned Additional Chief Secretary, Bihar, Patna, has affirm the order dated 14.09.2021 passed in Excise Appeal No. 570 of 2021 by Excise Commissioner which was preferred against confiscation case no. 486 of 2020 for the release of seized DI-Turbo Mahindra Bolero bearing its Reg. No. UP64AK 3077 seized with 2 x 75 ml 1.5 litre Royal Challenge Foreign Liquor Whisky by the police and kept in the road at P.S. in connection with Nauhatta P.S. Case No. 81/2020 for the offences u/s 30(a) which is pending in
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Collector, Rohtas, at Sasaram.”
Petitioner claims to be the owner of the seized vehicle. Allegation is recovery of 1.5 litre of illicit liquor from the seized vehicle of the petitioner.
It is further submitted that a meagre quantity of 1.5 litre of liquor has been recovered from the vehicle, as such, it cannot be construed that the vehicle was used for transporting/carrying illicit liquor.
It is submitted by learned counsel for the State that during pendency of writ petition, there has been amendment in the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 and a new Rule 12(A) has been inserted which reads as under:-
“12. A. Release of Vehicles, Conveyance etc. on payment of Penalty:- (1) If any vehicles, conveyance, vessel, animal etc. has been seized by any police or excise officer under the Act, then in terms of section -57B(1) of the Act, the Collector or an officer authorized by him upon receipt of an application in Form IV by the owner of the said conveyance or vehicle etc., may release the said conveyance or vehicle upon payment of such penalty as may be ordered by the Collector or the officer authorized by him.
Provided, where it is not possible to ascertain the owner of the vehicle or the owner is not coming to claim the vehicle, the Collector or the officer authorized by him, after waiting for 15 days from the date of seizure, shall proceed to confiscate and auction the vehicle as per the provisions of the Act.
(2) The penalty shall be 50% of the latest insured
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value of vehicle/conveyance. The insured value is the value of the vehicle as assessed by the insurance company. Where, the insured value is not available or the Collector or the officer authorized by him has reason to believe that the vehicle is undervalued, he shall get the valuation done by the District Transport Officer and 50% of that value shall be the amount of penalty.
In any case, the Collector shall not wait beyond 15 days from the date of seizure and if during this period, the accused/owner does not pay up the penalty, he shall proceed with the confiscation/auction.
(3)Notwithstanding above, if on a report by police officer or excise officer, the Collector or the officer authorized by him is satisfied that releasing the vehicle or conveyance shall not be in the public interest, he shall proceed ahead with the confiscation of the said vehicle or conveyance and its subsequent auction / disposal.
(4) Where the conveyance is such that its valuation / insurance is not possible, the Collector or the officer authorized by him shall impose such fine as he deems fit. While imposing such fine, the Collector or the officer authorized by him shall have due regard to the economic status of the individual, nature of his involvement in the crime and the quantum of intoxicant recovered.
(5) Such penalty shall be, regardless of the outcome of the trial if any, before the Special Court, nonrefundable.
(6) The owner of the vehicle / conveyance shall, after the release of the vehicle / conveyance, produce the vehicle/ conveyance as and when required by the authorities.
[Explanation:- In all pending / ongoing cases of confiscation/auction of vehicles, the Collector or the officer authorized by him may give an opportunity to the existing owner to pay the aforesaid penalty and get
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the vehicle released. Upon satisfaction about ownership and upon payment of such penalty, the ongoing confiscation/auction proceeding may be dropped and the vehicle released.]”
In said view of the matter, the writ petition is disposed of
with liberty to petitioner to avail the remedy of the amended provision 12(A) of the Bihar Prohibition & Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2022. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion with respect to merit of case.
Equally, liberty reserved to petitioner to approach this Court for same and subsequent cause of action, if so arises.
(Sanjay Karol, CJ)
(S. Kumar, J)
ranjan/-
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2 issues framed by the court
Whether the petitioner, seeking release of a vehicle seized for illicit liquor, is entitled to avail the remedy under the amended Rule 12(A) of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021.
Whether this Court should express any opinion on the merits of the confiscation case pending before the Special Court.
2 provisions across 2 enactments
Jai Narayan Sahani
State of Bihar through the Principal Registration Excise and Prohibition Department
District Magistrate-Cum-Collector, Rohtas
Excise Commissioner, Patna
Superintendent of Police, Rohtas
Officer-in-Charge Nauhutta Police Station
Sanjay Karol
S. Kumar
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
