Md. Zahiruddin, v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Jurisdiction of Superintendent of Police: police order declaring ownership status of land and rejecting rival title claims exceeds police remit — S.P., Katihar Memo No. 130 Legal dt. 07.09.2021 set aside as passed beyond the High Court's direction in CWJC No. 18430 of 2019 (order dt. 12.09.2019: representation before respondent no. 5, reasoned and speaking order) and beyond the S.P.'s duty to assess threat to life and property. References: R.S. Khatian 'Bihar Sarkar Khas'; nature of land POKHAR; Register-II entry; rent paid till 2019-20; Jamabandi No. 1400, Khata No. 572, Kheshra No. 1055, Area 35 dec., Mouza Sultanpur, P.S. Barsoi, Katihar; contempt MJC No. 5173 of 2019 disposed by Lok Adalat; alternative remedy before competent Civil Court including the State of Bihar. Patna High Court, CWJC, decided 16-03-2026, Sourendra Pandey, J.; NAFR.
What did the court decide?
Writ application allowed: impugned Memo No. 130 Legal dated 07.09.2021 of the S.P., Katihar set aside as illegal; S.P. directed to prevent untoward incidents over the land and to caution the disputing party against disturbing the petitioner's possession (Register-II entry; rent paid till 2019-20); title disputes left to the competent Civil Court, with the State free to initiate appropriate proceedings.