Ranjan Kumar Choudhary v. The State of Bihar

Patna HC24 Mar 2026CWJC/3937/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

CWJC No.3937 of 2026; Patna High Court; Justice Ajit Kumar; decided 24-03-2026; Panchayat Teacher; Exclusive Teacher; Competency Test for Local Bodies Teachers 2024; salary not paid since 2015; Bhagalpur; Regional Deputy Director of Education; representation-directed disposal; writ disposed with directions to adjudicate representation.

What did the court decide?

Writ application disposed of with directions: petitioners to file a representation with supporting materials before respondent no. 4 (Regional Deputy Director of Education, Bhagalpur) within four weeks; respondent no. 4 to adjudicate the claim and pass necessary orders within eight weeks thereafter; benefits found due to be extended within the same time frame. ¶¶43

Ranjan Kumar Choudhary Vs The State of Bihar — Patna HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners, having passed the competency test for local bodies teachers, 2024, are entitled to be treated and appointed as Exclusive Teachers with effect from the dates similarly situated teachers were appointed. +1 more

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Ratio / Principle

The Court directed the petitioners to file a representation before respondent no. 4 (Regional Deputy Director of Education, Bhagalpur), along with all supporting materials, within a period of four weeks.

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Key takeaways

Upon receipt of the representation, respondent no. 4 was directed to adjudicate the claim of the petitioners and pass necessary orders within a period of eight weeks thereafter.ratio¶¶38
The benefits to which the petitioners are found entitled shall be extended in their favour within the same time frame.ratio¶¶39

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ (Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3937 of 2026, Patna High Court, Ajit Kumar, J., decided 24-03-2026): Thirteen petitioners, initially appointed as Panchayat Teachers in and around Bhagalpur, who after passing the Competency Test for Local Bodies Teachers, 2024 joined as Exclusive Teachers, sought (i) treatment and appointment as Exclusive Teachers from the dates similarly situated teachers were appointed and (ii) payment of entire salary from the dates of their employment as Panchayat Teachers, alleging non-payment since 2015. The Court did not adjudicate the merits; it disposed of the writ directing the petitioners to file a representation with all supporting materials before the Regional Deputy Director of Education, Bhagalpur (respondent no. 4) within four weeks, and directed that authority to adjudicate the claim and pass necessary orders within eight weeks thereafter, with any benefits found due to be extended within the same time frame.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3937 of 2026

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Ranjan Kumar Choudhary S/o- Lakshmi Narayan Choudhary Resident of Village- Harnathpur, P.S.- Sajaur, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Deepak Kumar, Son of Jairam Mandal Resident of Village- Lattipur, P.S.Bihpur, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Santosh Kumar Mandal, Son of Ramdev Mandal Resident of VillageBishanpur Jichhi, P.S.- Lodipur, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Hemlata, Daughter of Durga Prasad Mehta Resident of Village- Aliganj Maheshpur, P.S.- Mujahidpur, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Shobha Kumari, Daughter of Sudhir Yadav Resident of Village- Baliya, Rupauli, District- Purnia (Bihar).

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Sarita Kumari, Daughter of Ramdev Mandal Resident of Village- Bazar, P.S.- Barari, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Son of Late Ganesh Prasad Yadav Resident of VillageChoti Goddi, P.S.- Kajraili, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Vikash Kumar, Son of Chandeshawari Prasad Yadav Resident of VillageChausa, P.S.- Chausa, District- Madhepura (Bihar).

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Ankit Kumar, Son of Bharat Mandal Resident of Village- Chammachak, P.S.- Goradih, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Radheshyam Tanti, Son of Tetar Tanti Resident of Village- Salpur, P.S.Goradih, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Prerna Kumari, Daughter of Chandradev Prasad Resident of VillageBadiallalpur, P.S.- Parbatta, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar).

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Md. Imam Alam @ Imam Ansari, Son of Md. Jalaluddin Resident of Village- Baliya, P.S.- Rupauli, District- Purnia (Bihar).

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Meera Kumari, Daughter of Tekan Mandal Resident of VillageGangaprasad Matauriya, P.S.- Madhusudanpur, District- Bhagalpur (Bihar). ... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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

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The Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Education, Government of Bihar, Patna.

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The District Magistrate, Bhagalpur. 4. The Regional Deputy Director of Education, Bhagalpur. 5. The District Education Officer, Bhagalpur (Bihar). 6. The District Programme Officer (Establishment), Education Department, Bhagalpur.

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The Block Development Officer, Goradih, (Bhagalpur), Bihar.

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... ... Respondent/s

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Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2026(2) dt.24-03-2026 2/4

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Appearance :

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For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Lalan Kumar For the Respondent/s : Government Pleader (26) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR ORAL ORDER

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2 24-03-2026

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Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and

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learned counsel for the respondents.

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The instant writ application has been filed for the following reliefs:-

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(i) For directing the respondent authorities to treat the petitioners as Exclusive Teacher having passed the competency test for local bodies teacher, 2024 and direct the respondent authorities to appoint the petitioners as Exclusive Teacher w.e.f dates similarly situated teacher have been appointed as such.

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(ii) For directing the respondent authorities to pay the petitioners their entire salary with effect from the dates of their employment as Panchayat Teacher.

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(iii) For any other relief(s) for which the petitioners are entitled in the facts and circumstances of the case.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners were initially appointed as Panchayat Teachers and, after being declared successful in the Competency Test for Local Bodies Teachers, 2024, they are stated to have joined as Exclusive Teachers. It is the case of the petitioners that, while discharging their duties on the post of Panchayat Teachers, they

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Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2026(2) dt.24-03-2026 3/4

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have not been paid salary since the year 2015, and even after having qualified as Exclusive Teachers, their salaries have not been paid till date.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that the petitioners propose to file an appropriate representation before the Regional Deputy Director of Education, Bhagalpur (respondent no. 4), for redressal of their grievances within a time frame as may be directed by this Court.

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On the other hand, learned counsel for the State submits that the petitioners may be directed to file an appropriate representation for adjudication of their grievances, and upon filing of such representation, the authorities would be obliged to take appropriate decisions in the matter.

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Considering the submissions of the parties, this Court finds it appropriate to direct the petitioners to file a representation before respondent no. 4, along with all supporting materials, within a period of four weeks from today. Upon receipt of such representation, respondent no. 4 is directed to adjudicate the claim of the petitioners and pass necessary orders within a period of eight weeks thereafter.

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