Tuntun Sao v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6657 of 2016 ====================================================== Tuntun Sao, son of Late Sitarama Sao, R/v- Tetarjat, P.S. Halsi, District Lakhisarai ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State Of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna

2. The District Magistrate, Lakhisarai

3. The Deputy Collector Land Reforms, Lakahisarai

4. The Sub-Divisional Officer, Lakhisarai

5. The Land Acquisition Officer, Lakhisarai

6. The Circle Officer, Ramgarh Chowk, Block Ramgarh, District Lakhisarai ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Lakshmi Kant Sharma, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. S. Raza Ahmad, AAG 9 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH ORAL ORDER 16-01-2024 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. The petitioner by way of this writ petition seeks payment of compensation on the ground that the compensation should have been fixed treating the land of the petitioner as homestead land.

3. At the outset, learned counsel for the State appears and raises preliminary objection to the effect that petitioner has got alternative remedy by way of filing an application before the Collector in terms of Section 64 (1) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,

Patna High Court CWJC No.6657 of 2016(3) dt.16-01-2024 2/3 Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which is as follows:- "64. Reference to Authority.-(1) Any person interested who has not accepted the award may, by written application to the Collector, require that the matter be referred by the Collector for the determination of the Authority, as the case may be, whether his objection be to the measurement of the land, the amount of the compensation, the person to whom it is payable, the rights of Rehabilitation and Resettlement under Chapters V and VI or the apportionment of the compensation among the persons interested: Provided that the Collector shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of application, make a reference to the appropriate Authority:

Provided further that where the Collector fails to make such reference within the period so specified, the applicant may apply to the Authority, as the case may be, requesting it to direct the Collector to make the reference to it within a period of thirty days."

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner does not dispute the contention made on behalf of the State.

5. In the facts and circumstances of the case, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to file a representation before the District Magistrate-cum-Collector, Lakhisarai (Respondent No. 2), along with all the relevant

Patna High Court CWJC No.6657 of 2016(3) dt.16-01-2024 3/3 documents in support of the claim.

6. If such representation is filed before respondent No. 2, the same shall be disposed of in accordance with law after hearing the parties, preferably, within a period of six months from the date of filing of the representation.

7. It goes without saying that if any question of limitation arises before the competent authority, the same shall be considered, taking into consideration the fact that the petitioner was pursuing the issue before this Court.

8. With aforesaid direction, the writ petition is disposed of.

(Prabhat Kumar Singh, J) Navya/- U