Ramesh Ray Vs The State of Bihar — Patna HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ramesh Ray Vs The State of Bihar — Patna HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with consent; petitioner directed to move before respondent no. 4 (District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari) within four weeks, and the District Magistrate to look into and dispose of the matter in accordance with law, preferably within four months. No immediate release of the truck ordered by this Court.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent authorities should be directed, by a writ in the nature of mandamus, to release truck bearing No. RJ27GB/1056, seized for illegal mining and overloading pursuant to letter No. 01/M dated 22.04.2022 issued by the Mineral Development Officer, District Mines Office, East Champaran.

Court's answer

With the consent recorded after arguments, the writ petition stands disposed of, directing the petitioner to move before respondent no. 4, the District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari, within four weeks.

Ratio / Principle

The District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari shall look into the matter and dispose of it in accordance with law, at the earliest, preferably within a period of four months.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Patna High Court (Rajiv Roy, J) — CWJC No.6925 of 2026, decided 25-06-2026 (oral order): Ramesh Ray v. State of Bihar and others (Mines & Geology officials, East Champaran). Petitioner sought mandamus for release of truck No. RJ27GB/1056 seized for illegal mining and overloading pursuant to letter No. 01/M dated 22.04.2022 of the Mineral Development Officer, District Mines Office, East Champaran. After argument, counsel for the petitioner agreed that adjudication before the District Magistrate would suffice and the State raised no objection; the Court accordingly disposed of the petition, directing the petitioner to move before the District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari within four weeks, and directing the District Magistrate to examine and dispose of the matter in accordance with law, preferably within four months. No statute or precedent was cited; no quantum awarded.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6925 of 2026

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

Ramesh Ray Son of Dineshwar Ray, resident of Village-Itva Devati, Police Station- Saran, District- Saran.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The State of Bihar Through Additional Chief Secretary, Dept of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Bihar.

The Additional Chief Secretary, Dept of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

The Director, Department of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Patna, Bihar.

The District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari.

The District Mining Officer, East Champaran, Motihari.

The Assistant Director, Department of Mines and Geology, East Champaran, Motihari.

The Mining Inspector, East Champaran, Motihari.

That Station House Officer, Motihari (West Champaran).

... ... Respondent/s

====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Dhananjay Mishra, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Advocate (05) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY ORAL ORDER

2 25-06-2026 Heard Mr. Dhananjay Mishra, learned counsel for the

petitioner and the State.

The present petition has been preferred for the

following relief(s):

“(i) For issuance of order/s, directions

or including appropriate or writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondent authorities to release the truck bearing No. RJ27GB/1056 which

Patna High Court CWJC No.6925 of 2026(2) dt.25-06-2026 2/2

has been seized for illegal mining and overloading pursuant to the letter No. 01/M dated 22.04.2022 issued by under Signature of Mineral Development Officer, District Mines Office, East Champaran.

(ii) For any other relief/s by which the petitioner found entitled in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

After some arguments, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that it would suffice that if the District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari takes up the matter and disposes it of, after hearing the parties, in accordance with law.

The respondents have no objection to it.

In that background, the writ petition stands disposed of directing the petitioner to move before the respondent no. 4, District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari in four weeks who shall be looking into the matter and disposing it of in accordance with law, at an earliest, preferably within a period of four months.

(Rajiv Roy, J)

Adnan/-

U