Ranjit Kumar v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Writ petition (Patna HC, DB, order dt. 16-06-2026) for release of godown premises after alleged recovery of 9 litres foreign-made liquor disposed of; writ refused entertainment on ground of equally efficacious statutory remedy; petitioner directed to invoke Rule 12B, Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules 2021 (as amended by Amendment Rules 2022), before Collector/authorised officer within 30 days; decision mandated within 30 days of filing; penalty limited to factors in the Rules; liberty to cite judicial pronouncements before competent authority. Keywords: alternative remedy doctrine; excise seizure; premises release; Rule 12B; CWJC 2618/2026; Rajeev Ranjan Prasad J; Kumar Manish J; Adarsh Ranjan for petitioner; Kameshwar Kumar GP-17 for State.
What did the court decide?
Liberty to file an application under Rule 12B of the Rules of 2021 before the Collector or an officer authorised by him within 30 days, to be considered at the earliest opportunity and decided by an appropriate order within 30 days of filing; penalty to be confined to the factors provided by the Rules.