Ramadhar Sah v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna High Court CWJC No.227 of 2026, decided 09-04-2026, bench Sudhir Singh & Shailendra Singh (per Sudhir Singh, J.). Contractor Ramadhar Sah v. State of Bihar (PHED) and engineers. Subject-matter: debarment from tender participation (Office Order no.451 dated 18.11.2025, memo no.3716, Executive Engineer, Public Health Division, Bettiah); warning recommending blacklisting and repudiation of agreement no. SBD-07/2016-17 (letter no.3913 dated 02.12.2025) for non-payment of electricity bills; petitioner's plea of departmental non-payment for maintenance work 2018-2023 and absence of contractual obligation to pay electricity charges; writ of certiorari and mandamus sought. Disposed of on the ground of efficacious alternative statutory remedy - appeal under Rule 11(e) of the Bihar Registration of Contractors Rules, 2007 before Respondent No. 1 (Principal Secretary, PHED); 30-day window to appeal; appellate authority directed to hear stakeholders and decide per law. Keywords: blacklisting, debarment, contractor registration, electricity bill dues, alternative remedy, Bihar Registration of Contractors Rules 2007 Rule 11(e), PHED Bihar, Bettiah, certiorari, mandamus.