Mukti Prasad Singh v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.22914 of 2019 ====================================================== Mukti Prasad Singh Son of Late Sadhu Saran Singh Resident of Village Nayagaon, P.S. Bath, District-Bhagalpur.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Co-operative Department, Bihar, Patna.

2.

The Registrar, Co-operative Department, Bihar, Patna. 3.

The District Certificate Officer, Bhagalpur.

4.

The Managing Director, Bihar State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. Khadya Bhawan Patna.

5.

The District Manager S.F.C Bhagalpur.

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

For the Petitioner/s :

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

Mr. Chitranjan Sinha ( PAAG 2 ) For the BSFC : Mr. Shailendra Kumar Singh, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY ORAL ORDER (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) 02-01-2023 Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s): " That the petitioner is being filed writ application for issuance of writ in nature of certiorari for quashing entire certificate proceeding in Certificate Case No.7 of 2015-16 and Certificate of Recovery issued under signature of District Certificate Officer, Bhagalpur without notice under section 7 of P.D.R. Act and number and not follow the P.D.R. Act and for any other relief or relief(s) for which the petitioner is entitled for."

It is not in dispute that petition under Section 9/60 of

2/4 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 9/60 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.

As such, petition stands disposed of in the following terms:- (a) Petitioner shall appear in the office of the appropriate authority on 25.01.2023 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 9/60 of the Act.

3/4 (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 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

4/4 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) ( Partha Sarthy, J) Saurabh/K.C.Jha U