Sikandar v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5696 of 2026 ====================================================== Sikandar S/o Kamta Prasad Sharma, R/o- Village- Bakaur, P.O. - Paithana, P.S. - Islampur, Dist.- Nalanda A/P residing at 7MF, 5/28, Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Thana- Agamkuan, Post- Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Dist. - Patna, 800026.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Bihar, Patna. 2.

The Chief Secretary, Govt.of Bihar, Patna.

3.

The Principal Secretary, Road Construction Department/Rural Works Department, District- Gopalganj, Bihar.

4.

The Engineer-in-Chief, Concerned Department, Road Construction Department/ Rural Works, District- Gopalganj, Bihar. 5.

The District Magistrate, Gopalganj, Bihar.

6.

The Executive Engineer, Concerned Division, Gopalganj, Concerned Road Construction Department, Rural Works, District- Gopalganj, Bihar. 7.

The Concerned Contractor Company through its Proprietor/Director, Ghoghari River, District- Gopalganj.

... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Pramod Kumar Yadav, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. S.D. Sanjay, AG :

Mr. Rahul Kumar, JC to AG :

Mr. Lokesh Kumar, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) Date : 19-06-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The instant writ petition pertains to the collapse of a bridge over Ghoghari River.

3. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that a bridge of approximately 29 meters was

Patna High Court CWJC No.5696 of 2026 dt.19-06-2026 2/3 constructed over Ghoghari River of which the sanctioned cost was approximately Rupees 2.89 crores. On 28.02.2026, during the casting of the second slab a loud explosion occurred and the slab collapsed of which a major portion of the structure fell into the river. The prayer put forth inter alia in the petition is to:

"(i) Direct the constitution of SIT/CBI investigation.

(ii) Direct vigilance inquiry into financial irregularities.

(iii) Direct registration of F.I.R. against responsible Engineers and Contractor.

(iv) Direct blacklisting of the contractor.

(v) Direct third party technical audit of all bridges constructed in last five years in Gopalganj District.

(vi) Pass any other order deemed fit in the interest of justice."

4. Learned Advocate General submits that the remedy may be exhausted before the concerned authorities.

5. After having heard learned counsel for the parties and perusing the averments meticulously, we are of the considered view that the petitioner in the first instance has not apprised this Court of any steps taken before the concerned relevant authorities, whether F.I.R. was lodged or whether the State Authorities have taken action against the alleged erring contractor.

Patna High Court CWJC No.5696 of 2026 dt.19-06-2026 3/3

6. In such circumstances, we are of the considered view that the petitioner ought to exhaust the remedies available to him under the law before approaching the writ Court.

7. The writ petition stands dismissed and disposed of accordingly.

(Meenakshi Madan Rai, CJ) (Soni Shrivastava, J) anand/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 22.06.2026 Transmission Date