Kaushalya Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5785 of 2026 ====================================================== Kaushalya Devi W/o Bishwanath Prasad, Resident of village- Salimpur Ahra, Dwarkanath Lane, P.S.- Kadamkuan, District- Patna. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

2.

The Director, Revenue and Land Reforms, (Land Acquisition Directorate), Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

3.

The Divisional Commissioner, Darbhanga Division, Darbhanga. 4.

The District Magistrate, Madhubani.

5.

The District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani, District- Madhubani. 6.

The Circle Officer, Circle- Benipatti, District- Madhubani. 7.

The Project Director, National Highway Authority of India, Project Implementation Unit, Pakai, Supaul.

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Ramchandra Singh, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Ramdhar Singh GP-(25) For the NHAI :

Mr. Amresh Kumar, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY ORAL ORDER 27-07-2026 Heard the parties.

2. The present petition has been preferred:

for issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus or any other writ/ writs or direction/ directions to the respondents to pay the compensation amount to the petitioner in view of notice no. 3705 dated 12.12.2022 as well as order dated 17.10.25 passed by the Commissioner along with reasonable compound interest since the date

Patna High Court CWJC No.5785 of 2026(4) dt.27-07-2026 2/3 of acquisition and compensation for the harassment made by the respondent no.4 to the petitioner as arbitrary action due still stand of Rs.69,77,506/- against the acquired land.

3. Pursuant to the last order, the District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani, Mr. Fahimuddin Ansari is present in the Court. According to him, he has just joined the post on 03.07.2026 and upon knowledge of the present matter, compensation has been prepared. Though out of Rs.64,31,526/-, Rs.58,54,132/- has been paid, the balance amount of Rs.5,77,394/- towards the interest has to be paid which remained inadvertently uncalculated.

5. Further, a request has been made to the Project Director, National Highway Authority of India (henceforth, for short 'the NHAI'), Madhubani vide letter no. 866 dated 20.07.2026 to accord necessary sanction and make available the requisite funds at an earliest.

6. The District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani submits that he is personally taking note of the fact and shall ensure that the payment is made in next two weeks after sanction is accorded.

7. Learned counsel representing 'the NHAI' submits

Patna High Court CWJC No.5785 of 2026(4) dt.27-07-2026 3/3 that the letter dated 20.07.2026 shall be acted upon immediately and he will be informing the concerned Project Director today itself so that necessary sanction is accorded and the payment is made.

8. Instead of two weeks, this Court grants four weeks time to the District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani to ensure that the entire payment is made to the petitioner. Failure to do so, the petitioner shall be free to file contempt petition immediately for taking necessary steps against the concerned officers including the District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani and the Project Direct, NHAI, Madhubani.

9. With the aforesaid observation, the writ petition is disposed of.

10. The personal appearance of the District Land Acquisition Officer, Madhubani, Mr. Fahimuddin Ansari is dispensed with.

(Rajiv Roy, J) sanny/- U