Dismissed

Bhola Nath @ Bhola Nath Gupta v. The Biharsharif Municipal Corporation and Ors.

Patna HC19 Jul 2023CWJC/22009/2018

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioner challenged the quashing of his land allotment, alleging violation of public trust and federal rights. The court upheld the revision order citing public interest and fire safety, but directed the refund of deposited funds with interest.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition dismissed; directed refund of Rs 20,00,000/- with 6% interest within eight weeks.

Bhola Nath @ Bhola Nath Gupta Vs The… — Constitutional and Fundamental Rights | Patna HC (2023)

¶1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.22009 of 2018

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======================================================

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Bhola Nath @ Bhola Nath Gupta son of Late Muneshwar Sao Resident of Mohalla Alamganj, P.O. Biharsharif,P.S. Laheri,Nalanda.

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... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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The Biharsharif Municipal Corporation

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The Nagar Aayukt- cum- special Officer of Nagar Nigam ,Biharsharif.

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The Mayor, Biharsharif Nagar Nigam, Biharsharif, Nalanda.

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... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. S.B.K. Manglam, Advocate Mr.Amar Nath Singh, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr. Gyan Prakash Ojha, Advocate ======================================================

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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY CAV JUDGMENT Date 19/07/2023

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Heard S.B.K. Mangalam, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Gyan Prakash Ojha who represents the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation.

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The present petition has been preferred for the following reliefs :-

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(i) for quashing of the decision dated 09/01/18 (Annexure-9) whereby and whereunder the committee has come to the conclusion that the land in question can not be transferred to the petitioner considering the public utility and interest as well as representation of the revenue officer dt 20/05/16 as being wholly illegal and without jurisdiction.

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(ii) for direction to the respondents to act upon the

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 2/17

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agreement dt 10/09/11 executed respondents no- 2 & 3 with the petitioner;

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(iii) for a direction to the respondents restraining them from disturbing the land which has been allotted to the petitioner in terms of decision dt 06/09/11 to enable the petitioner to complete construction work.

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The brief facts of the case is/are as follows:-

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The petitioner was allotted a piece of land pursuant to the decision taken by the Board of the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation and after an agreement was entered into between the petitioner and the Municipal Corporation, Biharsharif on 10.09.2011, a bank draft of Rs. 20,00000/- was made available to it.

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The possession of the land thereafter was delivered for which it prepared a plan and invested money. However, to his surprise within a fortnight, on 27.09.2011, without affording any opportunity to him, the same was cancelled. The proceedings of the said decision was communicated to him vide memo No. 2507 and 2509 both dated 11.10.2011 (Annexures-3 & 4 to the petition).

¶21

The same was challenged by the petitioner in CWJC No. 21264 of 2011 in which status quo was granted on

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 3/17

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01.02.2012. Finally, the writ petition was disposed of on 25.04.2016 by which the decision of the Board vide Special meeting dated 27.09.2011 as also the memo no. 2509 dated 11.10.2011 were quashed with liberty to take a fresh decision in the matter in accordance with law and after the grant of reasonable opportunity to the petitioner in the matter.

¶24

Subsequently, vide resolution dated 31.05.2016, a copy of which was communicated to the petitioner vide letter no. 4844 dated 16.09.2016, the claim of the petitioner was once again rejected.

¶25

This again followed filing of the CWJC No. 319 of 2017. The same was allowed on 17.08.2017 on the ground that the petitioner was denied a fair and reasonable opportunity of being heard. However, liberty was again granted to the respondents to pass a reasoned order in accordance with law after giving effective and reasonable opportunity to the petitioner of being heard in an open and transparent manner.

¶26

The petitioner was aggrieved by the said opportunity granted to the respondents and filed LPA No. 1274 of 2017 which was heard on 18.01.2018 and while granting time to the respondents to file counter affidavit, the operation of the order was stayed.

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 4/17

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The respondents, in turn, filed counter affidavit bringing on record the order dated 09.01.2018 and contended that a decision was already taken prior to the status quo order granted by the appellate Court and after granting opportunity to the petitioner-appellant.

¶29

The reasoned order/findings of the Board is incorporated herein below :-

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“ dk;kZy;] fcgkj ” kjhQ uxj fuxe] ukyUnk

¶31

vkt fnukad 9@1@2018 dks ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; iVuk }kjk CWJC ua&319@2017 esa ikfjr vkns”k fnukad 17@8@2017 ds vuqikyu esa N% lnL;h; lfefr dh cSBd ekuuh; egkikSj ds d{k esa vk;ksftr dh x;hA bl cSBd esa fuEu lnL; ,oa i{kdkj mifLFkr gq,%&

¶32

1- egkikSj

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2- miegkikSj

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3- uxj vk;qDr

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4- lnL; lg l”kDr LFkk;h lfefr Jh jes”k dqekj

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5- Jh Hkksyk ukFk mQZ Jh Hkkstkuk xqIrk (i{kdkj)

¶37

2- loZçFke uxj vk;qä }kjk crk;k x;k fd ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky;

¶38

iVuk }kjk C.W.J.C. ua&319/2017 esa ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 17/8/2017 ds }kjk dgk x;k gS fd çR;FkhZ ,d ls rhu mä ekeys esa u, fljs ls fof/k lEer dkjZokbZ djus ds fy, Lora= gSA lkFk gh ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk vkosnd Hkksyk ukFk mQZ Hkksyk ukFk ds i{k dks ikjn'khZ rjhds ls lqudj fof/klEer ,oa ;qfä;qä vkns'k ikfjr djus ds fy, funsf'kr fd;k x;k gSA

¶39

3- ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; ds mä vkns'k ds vkyksd esa ç'uxr ekeys

¶40

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 5/17

¶41

esa lquokbZ ,oa mfpr fof/k lEer fu.kZ; gsrq N% lnL;h; dfeVh dk xBu l”kDr LFkk;h lfefr dh cSBd fnukad 27-12-2017 ds dk;Zokgh la[;k ¼04½ ¼4-7½ }kjk dh x;h rFkk fnukad 9-12-2018 dks le; 11%00 cts iwokZà fu/kkZfjr dh xbZA rnksijkar fcgkj'kjhQ uxj fuxe dk;kZy; i=kad la[;k&53 fnukad 3-012018] }kjk lfefr ds ekuuh; lnL;ksa dh mifLFkfr gsrq lwpuk nh xbZA lkFk gh lkFk ekeys ds i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks Hkh i=kad la[;k&54 fnukad 3-12018 }kjk lquokbZ esa mifLFkfr gsrq fyf[kr lwpuk fuxZr dh xbZ] ftls muds }kjk fnukad 4-1-2018 dks çkIr fd;k x;kA

¶42

4- fu/kkZfjr le; ij ekuuh; egkikSj ds lHkkd{k esa xfBr lfefr ds mifLFkr lnL;ksa ,oa ekeys ds i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dh mifLFkfr esa lquokbZ dks çkjaHk fd;k x;kA

¶43

5- i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk }kjk bl laca/k esa ,d vkosnu lkFk “kkfey layXu nLrkost esa lefiZr fd;k x;kA vkosnu esa muds }kjk ;g of.kZr fd;k x;k gS fd ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky;] iVuk }kjk C.W.J.C. ua&319@2017 esa ikfjr vkns'k ds fo#) L.P.A. No.& 1274@2017 fnukad 8-9-2017 dks nkf[ky fd;k x;k gSA blfy, çLrqr dkjZokbZ dks mä L.P.A. ds fuLrkj.k rd LFkfxr j[kk tk;saA lkFk gh lkFk ;g Hkh dgk x;k fd ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 6-9-2011 Loh—r djrs gq, vxzsrj dkjZokbZ dh tk;sA

¶44

6- uxj vk;qä }kjk lfefr ds ekuuh; lnL;ksa dks ekeys dh foLr`r tkudkjh nh xbZA uxj vk;qä }kjk ;g Hkh crk;k x;k fd fcgkj'kjhQ uxj fuxe dh ukt flusek ds fudV nks eaftyk ikfydk ekdsZV gSA ekdsZV ds chp esa [kqyh ikfdaZx dh txg gSA rRdkyhu uxj vk;qä ,oa egkikSj }kjk ,d ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 dks i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk ds i{k esa fu’ikfnr fd;k x;k FkkA ftlds vuqlkj ç'uxr ikfydk ekdsZV ds ikfdaZx

¶45

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 6/17

¶46

LFky esa ls 20x100 QhV tehu f}rh; t'k dks Small Scale Industries Electronic Shop ds fuekZ.k gsrq iêk esa ns fn;k x;k FkkA mä ,djkjukek dh tkudkjh ds i'pkr~ uxj fuxe ds cksMZ dh fo'ks"k cSBd fnukad 27-9-2011 esa fy, x;s fu.kZ; ds vuqlkj ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10/9/2011 dks loZlEefr ls fujLr dj fn;k x;kA cksMZ dh cSBd fnukad 27-9-2011 esa ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10/2/2011 ds çFke i{kdkj rRdkyhu egkikSj ,oa uxj vk;qä Hkh mifLFkr FksA uxj vk;qä }kjk ;g Hkh crk;k x;k fd rRdkyhu cksMZ dh cSBd fnukad 6/9/2011 ds vkyksd esa ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10-92011 fu"ikfnr fd;k x;k FkkA mlesa ç'uxr ikfydk ekdsZV fLFkr [kqyh ikfdaZx LFky dks ihih eksM ds rgr vkoafVr djus gsrq fu.kZ; ugha fy;k x;k FkkA lkFk gh lkFk muds }kjk lfefr ds le{k ;g Hkh crk;k x;k fd ç'uxr ,djkjukek ¼iêk½ fof/k lEer ugha gSA D;ksafd mlesa vkoaVu vFkkZr iês dk vof/k mYysf[kr ugha dh x;h gSA lkFk gh lkFk vkoafVr Hkwfe 20 QhV xq.kk 100 QhV ¼2000 oxZ QhV½ dk dksbZ foLr`r fooj.k ;Fkk pkSgnh Hkh of.kZr ugha gS] ftlls vkoafVr Hkwfe vLi"V ,oa Hkzked çrhr gksrk gSA

¶47

7- rRi'pkr mifLFkr i{kdkj Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk ls viuk i{k j[kus gsrq dgk x;kA ftl ij muds }kjk dgk x;k fd os viuk fyf[kr vkosnu layXu nLrkost ds lkFk lfefr ds le{k lefiZr dj fn;k gSA oks pkgrs gSa fd ,yih- ,- ds fu.kZ; gksus rd bl lquokbZ dks LFkfxr dj fn;k tk;sA bl ij mifLFkr lfefr ds lnL;ksa }kjk ;g dgk x;k fd ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk lh-MCyw- ts-lh- uacj 319@2007 esa ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 117-8-2017 dks vuqikyu fd;k tkuk vfuok;Z gS ,oa vkidk i{k tkudj lfefr }kjk fu.kZ; fy;k tk;sxkA ftl ij Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk }kjk dgk x;k fd ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 dks ;Fkkor j[kk tk;sA

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 7/17

¶49

8- ekuuh; egkikSj }kjk uxj vk;qä ls ;g tkudkjh yh x;h fd i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks ç'uxr ,djkjukek fujLr djus ,oa ç'uxr Hkwfe dks futh dk;Z ds mi;ksx ds fy, vkoafVr ugha fd;k tk ldrk gSA bl ckr dh lwpuk i{kdkj dks iwoZ esa nh x;h Fkh ;k ughaA ftl ij uxj vk;qä }kjk crk;k x;k fd uxj fuxe ds rRdkyhu cksMZ dh fo'ks"k cSBd fnukad 27-9-2011 esa fy, x;s fu.kZ; ds vkyksd esa ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 fujLr dj nsus dh lwpuk dk;kZy; vkns'k Kkikad la[;k 2509 fnukad 11-10-2011 }kjk i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks fnukad 114-10-2011 dks dj nh x;h FkhA blds vfrfjä ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; iVuk }kjk CWJC No. - 21264/11 ds ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 25-4-2016 ds vkyksd esa xfBr lfefr dh cSBd fnukad 31-5-2016 esa fy, x;s fu.kZ; ftlesa ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 dks jí dj fn;k x;k Fkk vkSj tks uxj fuxe cksMZ dh cSBd fnukad 11-8-2016 }kjk vuqeksfnr dj i{kdkj }kjk tek dh x;h 20]00]000 ¼chl yk[k½ :i;s jkf'k ykSVkus dk fu.kZ; fy;k x;k FkkA mldh Hkh lwpuk i{kdkj HkksykukFk xqIrk dks dk;kZy; 4844 fnukad 16-09-2016 }kjk çsf"kr dh x;h FkhA fdarq Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk }kjk fuxZr lwpuk çkIr ugha dh tkrh FkhA lkFk gh lkFk vkt rd muds }kjk lwpuk ds ckotwn tek jkf'k okil yh x;h gSA

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9- uxj vk;qä }kjk ekuuh; lnL;ksa dks dgk x;k fd pwafd Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk bl le; mifLFkr gSA vr% lfefr }kjk bl ,xzhesaV ds jn gksus ds laca/k esa foe'kZ fd;k tkuk mfpr gS ,oa ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; ds vkns'k ds vuqikyu lfefr dk fu.kZ; Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks crk;k tkuk vko';d gSA lquokbZ ds Øe esa i{kdkj Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk }kjk lefiZr vH;kosnu fnukad 9-12017 ,oa lkFk layXu nLrkost dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA uxj vk;qä }kjk

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 8/17

¶52

mifLFkr i{kdkj] Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks dgk x;k fd ;fn ;s dksbZ vU; fcUnq ;k rF; lfefr ds le{k j[kuk pkgrs gS rks j[k ldrs gSaA bl ij Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk }kjk dksbZ mYys[kuh; ckr lfefr ds le{k ugha j[kh x;hA

¶53

10- lfefr ds lnL; Jh jes'k dqekj }kjk dgk x;k fd [kandij eksM+ ls ysdj Hkjkoij pkSjkgk rd yxHkx ,d fdyksehVj yEcs jkLrs ds nksuksa rjQ nqdku gS rFkk fjgkb'kh edku Hkh gSA bl iwjs {ks= esa bl LFkku ds vykok dksbZ nwljk [kqyk LFkku ugha gSA tgka okgu ikfdaZx fd;k tk ldsA lkFk gh bl ekdsZV ds lVs mÙkj vuqxzg ukjk;.k ikdZ gSA ftlesa cw<+ksa ls ysdj cPps dkQh la[;k esa vkrs gSaA mUgsa LdwVj] lkbfdy j[kus gsrq ;gh ,dek= LFkku gSA lkFk gh mä LFky ikfydk ekdsZV esa nksuksa rjQ 52 nqdkusa Hkh cuh gqbZ gSA xzkgdksa dks viuk okgu yxkus dk ;gh ,dek= LFkku gSA lkFk gh cxy ds ikdZ esa cksfjax dh O;oLFkk gSA ftlls dHkh Hkh vkx dh nq?kZVuk gksus ij vkx cq>kus ds fy, nedy yxkdj ikuh Hkjus ,oa 10 gtkj nqdku ,oa 50 gtkj ls vf/kd ekuo thou dh lqj{kk gsrq Qk;j fczxsM dh xkfM+;ksa dks yxkus ,oa ikuh vkfn ysus dk ;gh ,d LFkku gSA ,sls esa vke turk dh lqj{kk ,oa ekuo fgr dh vuns[kh ugha dh tkuh pkfg,A buds }kjk ;g Hkh dgk x;k fd fnukad 6-9-2011 dks uxj fuxe {ks=karxZr ekdsZV fuekZ.k gsrq ,d cSBd vk;ksftr dh x;h FkhA ftlesa ihih eksM esa ekdsZV fuekZ.k ij fopkj gksuk FkkA cksMZ dh cSBd esa dsoy lksgljk; ekdsZV dk fuekZ.k ihih eksM esa djkus dh ckr gqbZ FkhA ijarq blh cksMZ dh cSBd dk gokyk nsdj 500 :i;s ds uu&tqfMf”k;y LvkEi ij ,d ,xzhesaV cuk fn;k x;k tks fu;e lEer ugha gSA

¶54

11- ekuuh; miegkikSj }kjk dgk x;k fd ,xzhesaV dk vuqeksnu cksMZ dh cSBd esa ugha fy;k x;k Fkk- lkFk gh ikfydk ekdsZV gsrq dksbZ Bksl fu.kZ; ugha fy, tkus ds ckn Hkh ,djkjukek fd;k x;k rFkk fcuk fdlh bathfu;j ls fQftfcfyVh fjiksVZ fy, mä ikfdaZx LFky dks fdjk;k ij yxkus dk fu.kZ; cksMZ

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 9/17

¶56

dk fu.kZ; ugha ekuk tkuk pkfg,A

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12- uxj vk;qä }kjk ekuuh; lnL;ksa dks crk;k x;k fd iwoZ cksMZ dh cSBd esa Hkh ekuuh; lnL;ksa }kjk ;gh dgk x;k Fkk fd Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dk ikfdaZx ,y‚V fd;k tkuk tufgr esa mi;ksxh ugha gSA blls fdlh le; HkwdEi ;k vkx dh vkink jksdus esa dkQh ijs'kkuh gksxh vkSj ,d fdyksehVj yEckbZ esa cls nqdkuksa ds jgus okys 50 gtkj O;fä;ksa dk thou [krjk esa iM+ ldrk gSA ftldh dksbZ oSdfYid O;oLFkk ugha dh tk ldrh gSA cSBd ds blh fu.kZ; ds vk/kkj ij ,xzhesaV dks uxjikfydk vf/kfu;e 2007 ds çko/kkuksa ls vlaxr ekuk x;k FkkA

¶58

13- lfefr ds lnL;ksa }kjk lquokbZ ds i'pkr çLrqr ekeys esa layXu rF;ksa ,oa lacaf/kr nLrkost dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA lkFk gh gh lkFk cksMZ dh cSBd fnukad 6-9-2011 ,oa 27-9-2011 ds dk;Zokgh dk Hkh voyksdu fd;k x;kA voyksdu ds i'pkr lfefr ;g ikrh gS fd%&

¶59

1- cksMZ dh cSBd fnukad 6-9-2011 esa dk;kZoyh la[;k & 01 }kjk fcgkj'kjhQ uxj fuxe ds cktkj ifjlj ds fuekZ.k ,oa vkoaVu ds fopkj ds de esa lksgljk; vìk ij fLFkr fuxe ds cktkj ifjlj ds laca/k esa ek= fu.kZ; fy;k x;k FkkA mä cksMZ dh cSBd esa dgha Hkh ukt flusek ds fudV fLFkr ikfydk ekdsZV ¼xka/kh ekdsZV½ ds laca/k esa u rks dksbZ fopkj&foe'kZ fd;k x;k Fkk vkSj u gh dksbZ fu.kZ; gh fy;k x;k FkkA ,slh fLFkfr esa cksMZ dh cSBd fnukad 6-9-2011 ds vkyksd esa i{kdkj Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk ds i{k esa ç'uxr ekdsZV fLFkr [kqyk ikfdaZx LFky ds vkoaVu laca/kh ,djkjukek ¼iêk½ fnukad 10-9-2011 fu"ikfnr fd;k tkuk uxjikfydk vf/kfu;e 2007 esa of.kZr çko/kkuksa ds çfrdwy ,oa vlaxr gSA

¶60

2- ç'uxr ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 fof/krg iks"kuh;]

¶61

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 10/17

¶62

çHkkodkjh ,oa oS/k Hkh ugha gSA D;ksafd ç'uxr ,djkjukek esa vkoafVr Hkwfe ds iês dh vof/k of.kZr ugha gSA lkFk gh lkFk vkoafVr Hkwfe dk fu/kkZj.k ,oa pkSgíh Hkh of.kZr ugha fd;k x;k gSA ftlls ç'uxr ,djkjukek nwf"kr gSA

¶63

3- ç'uxr ,djkjukek ¼iêk½ laifr varj.k vf/kfu;e 1882 dh /kkjk 107 ,oa iathdj.k vf/kfu;e 1908 dh /kkjk 17 esa of.kZr çko/kkuksa ds vuqlkj Hkh voS/k gSA D;ksafd ,sls ,djkjukek ¼iêk½ dk iathdj.k gksuk fof/krg vfuok;Z gSA

¶64

4- fof/kd çko/kkuksa ds vuqlkj Hkh ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 voS/k gS ,oa fof/krg çorZuh; ugha gSA lfefr ;g Hkh ikrh gS fd cksMZ dh fo'ks"k cSBd fnukad 27-9-2011esa dk;Zoyh la[;k&01 }kjk fopkj&foe'kZ ds mijkar tufgr esa mä ,djkjukek &fnukad 10-9-2011 dks fujLr fd;k tk pqdk gSA ftldh lwpuk i{kdkj Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks dk;kZy; Kkikad 2509 fnukad 11-10-2011 }kjk çsf"kr dj nh x;h FkhA 5- lfefr ;g Hkh ikrh gS fd ç'uxr ekdsZV fLFkr ikfdaZx LFky tufgr ,oa ekdsZV fLFkr nqdkuksa ds fy, ,d vfregRoiw.kZ tuksi;ksxh LFky gSA bl laca/k esa jktLo inkf/kdkjh dk çfrosnu fnukad 20-52016 Hkh çklafxd gSA ftlesa mä ç'uxr Hkw[kaM dh egÙkk of.kZr djrs gq, mä Hkw[kaM ij fdlh Hkh çdkj dk fuekZ.k djk;k tkuk tufgr esa mfpr ugha dgk x;k gSA

¶65

14- mijksä foospuksaijkar lfefr ds mifLFkr lnL;ksa }kjk loZlEefr ls ;g fu.kZ; fy;k tkrk gS fd%&

¶66

1- i{kdkj Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk ds i{k esa fu"ikfnr ,djkjukek fnukad 10-9-2011 fujLr fd;k tkrk gS vkSj cksMZ dh fo'ks"k cSBd fnukad 279-2011 esa fy, x;s fu.kZ; dks ;Fkkor j[krs gq, ç'uxr ekdsZV fLFkr

¶67

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 11/17

¶68

ikfdaZx LFky dks tuksi;ksxh ekurs gq, tufgr esa mldk vkoaVu fdlh futh O;fDÙk ds fgr esa ugha fd, tkus dk fu.kZ; fy;k tkrk gSA

¶69

2- lfefr ;g Hkh fu.kZ; ysrh gS fd fuxe dk;kZy; i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk }kjk ekså 20]00]000 ¼chl yk[k½ #i;s tek dh x;h lqjf{kr jkf'k ;Fkk'kh?kz mUgsa okil djus dh dkjZokbZ djsaA

¶70

3- fuxe dk;kZy; dks ;g Hkh vkns'k fn;k tkrk gS fd bl fu.kZ; dh ,d&,d çfr iath—r Mkd ,oa fuxe ds pijklh }kjk i{kdkj Jh Hkksyk ukFk xqIrk dks fu%'kqYd gLrxr djk fn;k tk;sA

¶71

Ri'pkr cSBd dh dk;kZokgh lekIr dh x;hA

¶72

The LPA No. 1274 of 2017 was finally taken up on 14.05.2018 and the following order was passed:-

¶73

Heard the parties.

¶74

A fresh decision dated 09.01.2018 has been taken by the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation, a copy of which is Annexure-K to the counter affidavit filed on behalf of respondent nos. 1 to 3. In view of the same, the direction and order passed by the learned Single Judge has been carried out in letter and spirit. The Court fails to understand as to why the appeal should have been preferred.

¶75

If the appellant is not satisfied with the decision dated 09.01.2018, he may have remedy in law before the forums he may decide.

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 12/17

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Appeal stands disposed off.

¶78

Still aggrieved, the petitioner moved before the

¶79

Hon’ble Apex Court in SLP (Civil) Diary No (s) 31502/2018 which was dismissed as withdrawn on 17.09.2018 (Annexure16 to the petition).

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This followed the present writ petition.

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Heard learned counsel for the parties.

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The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the decision taken by the Board initially could not have been cancelled by the Municipal Commissioner, Biharsharif Municipal Corporation. It is his further submission that pursuant thereto not only he deposited draft but made huge investment and as such the decision taken against him has to go.

¶83

The further submission is that once they took a decision, allotted the plot and validly entered into an agreement and received consideration amount, they could not have turned around and cancelled the agreement. The further submission is that the petitioner has suffered a lot since last decade and as earnest money of Rs. 20,00,000/- remained with the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation.

¶84

Learned counsel appearing for the Bihar Municipal Corporation, on the other hand, has taken this court to Annexure-1 to show that the meeting of the Board of the

¶85

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 13/17

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Bihar Municipal Corporation dated 06.09.2011 simply talks about the allotment and at no point of time, any decision was taken to allot the same to the petitioner and he is duty bound to show that a decision was taken in his favour.

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learned counsel submits that pursuant to the Board’s decision, the petitioner became a blue eyed boy and grabbed the place by compromising the transparency that was required in the allotment.

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It is his further submission that so far as the earlier order (vide memo no. 2509 dated 11.10.2011) is concerned, that already stands quashed by the writ Court in CWJC No. 21264 of 2011.

¶89

The second decision was subsequently also not found fit in accordance with law by the writ Court in CWJC No. 319 of 2017 quashed. Thereafter, providing full opportunity to the petitioner, finally the order in question was passed. He has taken to this Court to the findings/decision of the Board, according to which:

¶90

(i) the place in question is closer to Anugrah Narayan Park where the old aged person and the children come to stroll and this is the only place for the parking;

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(ii) again, there are 50 shops in the Palika Market

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 14/17

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and the shopkeepers also park their vehicles at the same place;

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(iii) in any case a vacant place is needed for the Fire Brigade and the shopkeepers (in case of emergency) that cannot be ignored.

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It was further held by the Board in its meeting that :-

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(i) on 06.09.2011, the Board had simply taken decision to construct the Sohsarai Market on P.P.P mode and taking a leaf out of it, on a non-judicial stamp, an agreement was made which was not in accordance with law;

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(ii) the agreement was not approved by the Board and the said agreement having no feasibility report of the Engineer cannot be considered the decision of the Board;

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(iii) it was not in public interest as in case of earthquake and fire, the person present in the market could be at risk.

¶99

He as such submits that after granting opportunity to the petitioner, the decision of the Board on 09.01.2018 to approve the original order of cancellation of the allotment made to the petitioner as also to return him Rs. 20,00000/- is/are fully justified and the writ petition is fit to be rejected.

¶100

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 15/17

¶101

This Court has gone through the facts of the case as also the submission put forward by the parties. The petitioner has based his case on the decision dated 06.09.2011 of the Board of Biharsharif Municipal Corporation by which it decided to make allotments under P.P.C mode so far as Sursarai market area is concerned. However, a perusal of the same clearly shows that there was no such decision to allot it to a particular individual much less the petitioner herein.

¶102

Further, it was not the case of the petitioner that pursuant to the decision taken by the Board, any advertisement/notice was issued in which he participated, was successful which followed the agreement.

¶103

This Court can clearly hold that in the garb of the board decison, it was a backdoor entry by the petitioner through the agreement signed between the parties for which the signatories of the Municipal Corporation, Biharsharif too are responsible who acted in complete violation of the guidelines/rules that has to be followed and/or the transparency that is to be maintained in such matters. It will be open for the authorities to take appropriate action against the then erring officials.

¶104

Further, the reasoned order dated 09.01.2018 of

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Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 16/17

¶106

the Board clearly held that the place in question is the only open area where not only the vehicles can be parked, in case of emergency, (earthquake/fire) the Fire Brigade and all the emergency vehicles can come to that place and in its absence, the lives of those inside the market can be completely compromised.

¶107

Thus in the considered opinion of this Court, the reasoned order/decision date 09.01.2018 taken by the Board of the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation to keep the area open needs no interference and this writ petition is fit to be rejected.

¶108

Having justified the decision of the Board of the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation, this Court cannot overlook one important fact. Rs. 20,00, 000/- of the petitioner has remained with the authorities since last 12 years and thus decision of Board to refund the same has to come along with the interest.

¶109

As such, while dismissing the writ petition having found no merit in the case, this Court holds that the petitioner is entitled to the refund of Rs. 20,00,000/- (Rupees twenty lakhs only) along with 6 percent interest from the date the same was deposited with the Biharsharif Municipal Corporation till the actual payment is made.

¶110

Patna High Court CWJC No.22009 of 2018 dt.19-07-2023 17/17

¶111

The aforesaid exercise shall be completed as

¶112

early as possible and maximum within eight weeks from today.

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(Rajiv Roy, J)

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Jagdish/Jyoti-

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AFR/NAFR	NAFR
CAV DATE	11.07.2023
Uploading Date	21.07.2023
Transmission Date

Bhola Nath @ Bhola Nath Gupta v. The Biharsharif Municipal Corporation and Ors.

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Bhola Nath @ Bhola Nath Gupta v. The Biharsharif Municipal Corporation and Ors.

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