Deepak Vegpro (P) Ltd. v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.7952 of 2019 ====================================================== Deepak Vegpro (P) Ltd. a Company registered Under the Companies Act, having its registered office at Old Industrial Area, Itarana Road, Alwar Rajasthan and having its Branch Office at Station Road, Durgawati, Kaimur, Bihar 821105, through its Director Mr. Mool Chand Goel, aged about 73 years (male), Son of Late Gain Singh @ Late Gian Singh Goel, Resident of Flat, no. 414, Lal Jyoti Apartments, Near Sports Complex, Sector 9, Rohini North West Delhi, Delhi, at Present residing at Station Road, Durgawati, Kaimur, Bihar 821105 ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of industries, Government of Bihar, 2nd Floor, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna-800015 2.

The Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, 2nd Floor, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna-800015 3.

The Director, Directorate of Food Processing, Department of Food Processing, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, 2nd Floor, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna-800015 4.

The General Manager, District Industries Centre, Kaimur Bhabhua. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Suraj Samdarshi, Advocate Mr. Avinash Shekhar, Advocate Mr. Rajan Prakash, Advocate Mr. Vijay Shankar Tiwari, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) Date : 27-09-2022 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):-

2/5

3/5 It is not in dispute that petition under Section 9 of the Bihar & Orissa Public Demands Recovery Act, 1914 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") is pending consideration/petitioner intends to file before the appropriate authority.

Learned counsel for the parties jointly pray that the instant petition be disposed of with direction to the appropriate authority to consider and decide the same expeditiously. Learned counsel for the State states that the appropriate authority shall consider and decide the petition filed/ to be filed by the petitioner under Section 9 of the Act positively within a period of three months from the date of appearance of the petitioner before him along with a copy of this order and the issue of limitation shall not come in the way of decision on merits.

Statement accepted and taken on record.

As such, petition stands disposed of in the following terms:-

4/5 (a) Petitioner shall appear in the office of the appropriate authority on 17th of October, 2022 along with a copy of this order, on which date documents in support of the petition shall be filed, or else file a fresh petition under Section 9 of the Act.

(b) The appropriate authority shall consider and dispose of the petitioner's petition expeditiously, by a reasoned and speaking order, preferably within a period of three months from the date of appearance of the petitioner before him and till then no coercive steps be taken against the petitioner; (c) The authority shall also examine as to whether the amount in question falls within the definition of public demand or not;

(d) Needless to add, while considering such petition, principles of natural justice shall be followed and due opportunity of hearing afforded to the parties; (e) Order assigning reasons shall be supplied to the parties;

(f) Equally, liberty is reserved to the petitioner to take recourse to such alternative remedies as are otherwise available in accordance with law;

(g) We are hopeful that as and when petitioner takes

5/5 recourse to such remedies, as are otherwise available in law, before the appropriate forum, the same shall be dealt with, in accordance with law and with reasonable dispatch; (h) Liberty reserved to the petitioner to challenge the order passed by the appropriate authority, before the appropriate forum, if so required and desired.

(i) We have not expressed any opinion on merits. All issues are left open;

The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Interlocutory Application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

(Sanjay Karol, CJ) (S. Kumar, J) Amrendra/Anjani AFR/NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date 29.09.2022 Transmission Date