Chhedi Sahni v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3876 of 2019 ====================================================== Chhedi Sahni Son of Late Aklu Sahni R/o Village-Balua, P.S.-Riga, DstrictSitamarhi ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

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

The District Magistrate Sitamarhi 3.

The Superintendent of Police Sitamarhi 4.

The Station House Officer of Riga Police Station, Sitamarhi ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Ashok Kumar Jha For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Vivek Prasad (GP7) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARVIND SRIVASTAVA ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 07-03-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State. This application has been filed for a Mandamus directing the State-respondents to release/unseal the House of the petitioner sealed in connection with Riga P.S. Case No. 152 of 2018 dated 22.05.2018 registered under sections 272, 273 of the Indian Penal Code and for the offence punishable under section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

Patna High Court CWJC No.3876 of 2019 dt.07-03-2019 2/3 the seizure list shows recovery of 27.900 liters of Nepali country liquor from the house of the petitioner. He is the bona fide owner of the house in question. It is also submitted that the confiscation proceeding has not yet been initiated. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits that in the given facts and circumstances of this case if at all the Court is willing to consider provisional unsealing of the house then the interest of the State is required to be protected.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case where it is said to be a residential house under seizure for more than six months and the petitioner is ready to furnish adequate security to safeguard the interest of the State, following the consistent views of the Division Bench of this Court, we direct that pending initiation and disposal of the confiscation proceeding, the house of the petitioner in question be unsealed and possession be handed over to the petitioner on the petitioner's depositing the original title deed of the property in question as security with one surety to the extent of the value of the property as per the circle rate before the designated Court below.

The owner of the property shall give an

Patna High Court CWJC No.3876 of 2019 dt.07-03-2019 3/3 undertaking that he will not deal with the property in question and shall not create any third party interest whatsoever in the meanwhile.

On submission of the original title deed of the property in question together with the surety and the undertaking as mentioned above, the house in question shall be de-sealed and possession be handed over within a fortnight thereafter. The title deed deposited by the petitioner shall be kept in safe custody of the designated Court below. The application is allowed with the observations and directions set out hereinabove.

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Arvind Srivastava, J) Shailendra/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 16.03.2019 Transmission Date NA