Shankar Kumar Sah v. The State Of Bihar,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.964 of 2019 ====================================================== Shankar Kumar Sah, aged 37 years (M), Son of Yogendra Sah, Resident of Village- Mirjapur, Ward No. 7, Police Station- Simraha, District- Araria. ... ... Petitioner

Versus

1.

The State Of Bihar, through the Principal Secretary, Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna. 2.

The Principal Secretary, Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

3.

The District Magistrate, Araria.

4.

The Superintendent of Police, Araria.

5.

The Station House Officer, Raniganj Police Station, Araria. ... ... Respondents ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Ramesh Kumar Singh For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Kumar Manish ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANJANI KUMAR SHARAN ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 10-05-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

This application has been filed seeking provisional release of the Alto K10 VXI bearing registration No. BR38Q 1519, Chasis No. MA3EZDE1500399-602, Engine No. K10BN8040482, which has been seized in connection with Raniganj P.S.Case No. 346/2018 corresponding to Special Case No. 1274/2018 registered under section 30(a)/38 of the Bihar Excise and Prohibition Act, 2016.

Patna High Court CWJC No.964 of 2019 dt.10-05-2019 2/3 Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that for recovery of 500 bottles of Cough Syrup each containing 100 ml., the vehicle in question has been seized because according to the respondent, it is capable of being used as a substitute for an intoxicant. It is submitted that there is no information about confiscation proceeding.

Learned counsel for the State has not been able to clarify that whether or not the cough syrup so seized comes in the prohibited category of intoxicant or spirit or liquor or fermented liquor or illicit liquor under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties and in the given facts and circumstances where no confiscation proceeding is presently pending and the seizure is of cough syrup, let the vehicle in question be released in favour of the petitioner on the petitioner's producing the document of ownership and registration in his name before the court below with two sureties to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document and an undertaking that he will not create third party rights during pendency of the proceeding.

The release shall be allowed within a period of 14 days from the date of production of ownership papers before the court

Patna High Court CWJC No.964 of 2019 dt.10-05-2019 3/3 below with the sureties along with the undertaking as stated above. This release, however, would be subject to the final order passed in the confiscation proceeding, if any.

The petitioner shall be at liberty to raise the issues whether or not the seized goods comes within the prohibitory jurisdiction of 'the Act'.

The writ petition is allowed to the extent as stated hereinabove.

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Anjani Kumar Sharan, J) Surendra/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 18.05.2019 Transmission Date NA