Rupam Kumari v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.9440 of 2025 ====================================================== Rupam Kumari, Daughter of Sri Shashi Bhushan Prasad, Resident of VillageKamla Kund, P.S- Ismailpur, District- Bhagalpur. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Panchayat Raj, Government of Bihar, Patna.

2.

The District Magistrate-cum-Collector, Bhagalpur. 3.

The District Panchayat Raj Officer, Bhagalpur. 4.

The Block Development Officer, Ismailpur, District- Bhagalpur. 5.

The Nodal Officer, Ismailpur, District- Bhagalpur. 6.

The Mukhiya, Kamla Kund Panchayat, District- Bhagalpur. 7.

The Sarpanch, Kamla Kund Panchayat, District- Bhagalpur. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Arun Kumar Sinha, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Md. Irshad, AC to SC-1 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH KUMAR ORAL ORDER 23-06-2025 Heard the parties.

2. The petitioner is aggrieved with the action fo the respondent authorities in not extending the payment of honorarium amount, which is due since 24.11.2007.

3. Learned Advocate for the petitioner vehemently contended that the petitioner has submitted her joining as a Gram Katchari Sachiv long back in the year 2007, but she has only been extended the honorarium to the tune of Rs. 20,000/-, that too on 09.06.2010. There has never been any complaint with regard to any deficiency and discharge of her services as a

Patna High Court CWJC No.9440 of 2025(2) dt.23-06-2025 2/3 Gram Katchari Sachiv; and without any justifiable reason she has been deprived from the honorarium only on assurance that in case the fund shall be available, the honorarium in favour of the petitioner shall be extended. It is further contended that at one hand the petitioner has been deprived from the honorarium, despite the work is being taken. On the other hand, the respondent has come out with an advertisement vide Employment No. 826 for filling up post of Gram Katchari Sachiv, against which the petitioner has also been discharging duty.

4. On the other hand, learned Advocate for the State refuting the contention of the petitioner submitted that for the honorarium since 2007, till date, the petitioner has approached this Court after a delay of eighteen years and for this reason alone, the writ petition should be dismissed.

5. Be that as it may, considering the fact that the District Panchayati Raj Officer, Bhagalpur has issued letter no. 1560 dated 13.07.2024 directing the Block Development Officer, Ismailpur Block, Bhagalpur to enquire the matter and pay the honorarium amount, this Court deems it fit and proper to dispose off the writ petition with a direction to the Panchayati Raj Officer, Bhagalpur to consider the claim of the petitioner

Patna High Court CWJC No.9440 of 2025(2) dt.23-06-2025 3/3 and settle the dispute regarding honorarium, preferably within a period of 12 weeks' from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order.

6. Suffice it to observe that in case the petitioner is not entitled to get honorarium for any of the period in question, it shall be followed by a reasoned and speaking order. (Harish Kumar, J) supratim/- U