Rashtriya Lok Vikas Sangh v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.11623 of 2022 ====================================================== Rashtriya Lok Vikas Sangh having its office at Nala Jheel, Arrah (Bhojpur) through its Chairman Savita Devi, aged about 54 years, Gender -Female, Wife of Birendra Kumar Pandey, Resident of C.K. Road, Jai Hind Colony, Nala Road, Arrah (Bhojpur), P.S. - Arrah Town, Dist. - Arrah (Bhojpur). ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, SC/ST Welfare Department, Old Secretariat, Government of Bihar. 2.

Bihar Mahadalit Vikas Mission (B.M.V.M.) through its Mission Director, Sachiwalaya Vistarikaran Bhawan, Block - 3, Old Secretariat, P.S. - Sachiwalaya, Patna.

3.

The District Certificate Officer-cum-District Development Officer, District Development Branch, Patna Collectorate, Patna. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Sanjay Kumar, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr.S.K. Mandal (SC3) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) Date : 24-08-2022 Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s): "(i) Issuance of a writ in the nature of writ or certiorari to set aside/quash the certificate notice dated 24.03.2022 issued by the Respondent No. 3, whereby the Certificate Case vide its no. 27/2022-23 has been instituted for alleged recovery of Rs.497848/- (as contained in Annexure-4 to the writ petition) as the entire certificate proceeding is not maintainable, nonest and void-ab-initio.

2/4 (ii) Issuance of a writ again in the nature of writ of certiorari to set aside the entire proceedings in certificate case no. 27/2022-23 initiated by the certificate officer-cum-D.D.O., Patna against the petitioner.

(iii) Issuance of any other writ/writs, order/orders, relief/reliefs to which the petitioner may be found entitled to in the facts and circumstances of the case."

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 to be filed by the petitioner under Section 9 of the Act positively within a period of two 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.

3/4 As such, petition stands disposed of in the following terms:- (a) Petitioner shall appear in the office of the appropriate authority on 12th of September, 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 two 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

4/4 in accordance with law;

(g) We are hopeful that as and when petitioner takes 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, stands disposed of.

(Sanjay Karol, CJ) ( Satyavrat Verma, J) K.C.Jha/DKS AFR/NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date 26.08.2022 Transmission Date