Sonamati Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2823 of 2026 ====================================================== Sonamati Devi Wife of Jitendra Prasad, Resident of Ward No. 26, Maharajchak, Masaurhi, P.S.- Masaurhi, District- Patna, PIN- 844452. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through Secretary, Department of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

2.

The Secretary, Department of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Patna. 3.

The District Magistrate, Patna.

4.

The Mineral Development Officer, District Mining Office, Patna. 5.

The Mining Inspector, District Mining Office, Patna. 6.

The Officer-in-Charge, Gaurichak Police Station, Patna. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Rajnikant, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Hitesh Suman, AC to SC-13 For the Mines :

Mr. Naresh Dikshit, Spl.P.P.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY ORAL ORDER 23-04-2026 Heard the parties.

2. The present petition has been preferred for the following relief(s):

"i. For issuance of a writ in the nature of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ quashing the illegal seizure and detention of the vehicle (Hywa) bearing Registration No. BR25GA-3839 seized on 02.07.2025, without following due process of law.

ii. For issuance of a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to forthwith release the seized vehicle of the Petitioner without insisting upon illegal or arbitrary penalty.

Patna High Court CWJC No.2823 of 2026(2) dt.23-04-2026 2/2 iii. For a direction upon the Respondents to refrain from taking coercive steps pursuant to the impugned seizure notice during pendency of the present writ petition.

iv. For any other relief(s) to which the Petitioner may be found entitled in the facts and circumstances of the case."

3. At the outset, learned Spl.P.P. Mines submits that the Mineral Development Officer, District Mining Office, Patna (respondent no. 4) will be taking care of the fresh representation of the petitioner in accordance with law.

4. In that background, the writ petition stands disposed of allowing the petitioner to approach the respondent no. 4, the Mineral Development Officer, Patna with fresh representation and if such petition is filed in next four weeks, the concerned respondent shall take up the matter and pass a reasoned order at an earliest.

(Rajiv Roy, J) Adnan/- U