Meena Devi And ORS v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.15186 of 2015 ====================================================== 1.

Meena Devi Wife of Sajan Prasad, 2.

Bimla Devi, Wife of Sidheshwar Sao, 3.

Pramila Devi, Wife of Lalan Sao, All are resident of village - Mohiuddinpur, Khaira P.S. - Ben, District - Nalanda.

4.

Kamla Devi, Wife of Surendra Prasad Resident of Village - Chero, P.S. - Harnaut, District - Nalanda.

5.

Rajendra Yadav, Son of Ram Swaroop Yadav, Resident of Village - Galariya Bigha, P.S. - Ben, District - Nalanda.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State Of Bihar 2.

The Additional Collector - cum - Additional District Magistrate, Nalanda. 3.

The L. R.D.C., Rajgir, District - Nalanda.

4.

The Circle Officer, Ben, District - Nalanda.

5.

Arbind Kumar, Son of Sri Ram Chandra Singh, Resident of Mohalla - Chauriya Bazar, Harnaut, P.O. and P.S. - Harnaut, District - Nalanda. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Adv.

For the State :

Mr. V. K. Mishra, (AC to AAG-15) For the Respondent :

Mr. Pratik Kumar, Adv.

Nos. 5 & 6 Mr. Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Adv.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DR. ANSHUMAN ORAL ORDER 31-08-2023 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the State.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order dated 12.08.2015 passed by the Additional Collectorcum-Additional District Magistrate, Nalanda in Mutation Case No. 08 of 2015.

3. After some arguments, learned counsel for the

2/5 petitioners seek permission to prefer an appropriate application before the Bihar Land Tribunal, in view of the provisions of Sections 9 and 15 of the Bihar Land Tribunal Act, 2009 [Bihar Act 9 of 2009], which reads as under :- "9. Powers of the Tribunal. - (1) The Tribunal shall have the power to entertain any application against the final order passed by the Appropriate Authorities under the Acts/ Manuals, mentioned below, within 90 days of such an order provided no other forum of appeal or revision against the order passed is provided in that Act/ Manuals:

(i) The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 (ii) The Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 (iii) The Bihar Tenancy Act, 1885 (iv) The Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation Act, 1956 (v) [xxx] (vi) The Bihar Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1954 (vii) The Bihar Privileged Persons Homestead Tenancy Act, 1947 (viii) The Bihar Government Estates Manual, 1953

3/5 (ix) The Bihar Settlement Manual (x) Bihar Land Disputes Resolution Act, (xi) Bihar Special Survey and Settlement Act, 2011.

(xii) Bihar Land Mutation Act, 2011 It shall be open to the State Government to add or remove any Law/Manual in or from the list hereinfore mentioned.

(2) In addition, the Tribunal shall decide any case transferred to it by the Government of Bihar or by the Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Patna with regard to any other revenue or land reforms Law/ Manual for the time being in force.

(3) The Tribunal shall have powers vested in the Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) including the power to recommend to punish for Contempt of Court.

15. Transfer of proceedings pending in Patna High Court/ State Government to the Tribunal. - All cases connected with the Acts/ Manuals dealt with under Section 9 of this Act and pending in the High Court of Judicature at Patna but excluding writ petitions filed under Articles 226 and 227

4/5 of the Constitution of India and cases pending with the State Government, immediately before the commencement of this Act, as could have been within the jurisdiction of such Tribunal, and cases arising after the commencement of this Act, as would have been within the jurisdiction of such Tribunal, shall stand transferred to the Tribunal with effect from the said date of commencement:

Provided further that it shall be open to the High Court of Judicature at Patna to remit the dispute pending adjudication in any writ proceeding before it for adjudication by the Tribunal."

4. Since, the present writ petition relates to the Bihar Mutation Act, 2011, [Bihar Act 23 of 2011] which is a schedule Act, under Section 9 of the Bihar Land Tribunal Act, 2009 [Bihar Act 9 of 2009], this Court is of the opinion that the matter can well be adjudicated by the Tribunal

5. Accordingly, in view of proviso to Section 15 of the Bihar Land Tribunal Act, 2009, the Registry is directed to transmit the record of this case to the Tribunal forthwith.

6. However, it is expected that the Tribunal will hear and disposed off the case within a period of nine months from

5/5 the date of receipt of record of this case after sending and service of notices to all the parties concerned, including the petitioners.

(Dr. Anshuman, J.) sadique/- U