Mukesh Manjhi v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna HC CWJC No.7888 of 2024, decided 09-05-2024 (P. B. Bajanthri & Alok Kumar Pandey, JJ.). Mukesh Manjhi v. State of Bihar: writ petition for mandamus to unseal petitioner's residential house sealed on 31.12.2023 by police/excise officials in connection with Madhauraha P.S. Case No.825/2023 under S.30(a) Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amended Act 2023. Held premature: petitioner never applied under Rule 12B of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 (amended sub Rule 2, 2022-2023) and made no demand before the competent authority, so the first ingredient of mandamus was missing; petition disposed of as not maintainable. Competent authority to consider any Rule 12B application within two weeks; appeal under Section 92 of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 available if confiscation attains finality. Keywords: premature writ petition, mandamus demand ingredient, Rule 12B, sealed house, excise prohibition Bihar, Section 92 appeal.