Pujya Bhadanta Harshbodhi, Vs The State of Bihar — Patna HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Pujya Bhadanta Harshbodhi, Vs The State of Bihar — Patna HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ application disposed of with observations/directions: liberty to the petitioner to file a detailed representation before respondent no. 2 within two weeks, and a direction to respondent no. 2 to decide and dispose of the grievance by a reasoned order within six weeks of such filing.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner's grievance regarding the alleged unauthorised demolition, without notice, of one of the Buddha Purnima welcome gates near the Mahabodhi Mahavihar by respondent no. 2 warranted redressal by the authorities. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

This Court granted the petitioner liberty to file a detailed representation before respondent no. 2 within a period of two weeks from the date of the order.

Key takeaways

Respondent no. 2 was directed to proceed to decide and dispose of the petitioner's grievance by a reasoned order within six weeks from the date of filing of the representation.ratio¶19

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

PATNA HIGH COURT (Raj Kumar, J.) — Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2350 of 2025, oral order dated 08-07-2026. The petitioner, stated to be President of Dr. Ambedkar International Buddhist Parliament (PTR No. 486) and Mahabodhi Charitable Trust (PTR No. Mah. E-1278(N)), alleged that four temporary welcome gates erected on 17th May, 2024 for Buddha Purnima (23rd May, 2024) — on one of which, near the Mahabodhi Mahavihar opposite the BTMC Office, Bodhgaya, he had spent Rs. 20,450/- — were demolished on 21st May, 2024 by respondent no. 2 (District Magistrate, Bodhgaya) without prior notice or authorization, and that earlier representations had produced no action. Without adjudicating the allegations, the Court disposed of the application, granting the petitioner liberty to file a detailed representation before respondent no. 2 within two weeks and directing respondent no. 2 to decide and dispose of the grievance by a reasoned order within six weeks of such filing. No statute or precedent is cited in the order.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2350 of 2025

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

Pujya Bhadanta Harshbodhi, Resident of C/o Umesh Yadav, New Tarodi, Bhagalpur, Bodhgaya, Bihar-824231.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna.

The District Magistrate, Collectorate Building, Bodhgaya, Bihar.

The Executive Officer, Bodhgaya Nagar Parishad, Mahabodhi Temple Road, Bodhgaya, Bihar-824231.

Secretary, the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Management Committee Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar-824231.

... ... Respondent/s

====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Parth Sarthy, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr.Ramadhar Singh, G.P.-25. ======================================================

CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ KUMAR ORAL ORDER

2 08-07-2026

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the respondents/State.

The present writ application has been filed alleging, inter alia , that the petitioner happens to be the President of two public trusts, namely, Dr. Ambedkar International Buddhist Parliament, registered vide PTR No. 486, and Mahabodhi Charitable Trust , registered vide PTR No. Mah. E-1278(N). It is further submitted that, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima (Vaishakhi Purnima) on 23rd May, 2024, four temporary welcome gates were erected on 17th May, 2024, one of which was situated near the Mahabodhi Mahavihar, opposite the BTMC Office, Bodhgaya . It is next submitted that the petitioner

Patna High Court CWJC No.2350 of 2025(2) dt.08-07-2026 2/2

incurred an expense of Rs. 20,450/- for constructing these welcome gates, which were an integral part of the event, but all of a sudden, on 21st May, 2024, without any prior notice and without any instruction or authorization, respondent no. 2 unlawfully demolished one of the welcome gates near the Mahabodhi Mahavihar .

The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that he has represented before the authorities, but no action whatsoever has been taken.

In the background of these facts, this Court thinks it proper to grant liberty to the petitioner to file a detailed representation before respondent no. 2 within a period of two weeks from today, and thereafter respondent no. 2 shall proceed to decide and dispose of the grievance of the petitioner by a reasoned order within a period of six weeks from the date of filing of such representation.

The application stand disposed of with the above said observations/directions.

(Raj Kumar, J)

Nirmal/AKV U