Sabita Devi v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.15130 of 2024 ====================================================== Sabita Devi Wife of Sri Barun Kumar Yadav, Resident of village- Lal Darwaja, P.O.- Munger, P.S. - Kotwali Munger, Dist. - Munger. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The State of Bihar through the Engineer in Chief cum Special Secretary Public Health Department, Government of Bihar, Patna. 2.
The Engineer in Chief cum Special Secretary Public Health Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
3.
The District Magistrate, Munger.
4.
The Superintending Engineer, Public Health Division, Munger Dist. Munger.
5.
The Executive Engineer, Public Health Division, Munger Dist. Munger. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr. Amrendra Narayan Rai, Adv.
For the Respondent/s :
Mr. Standing Counsel (26) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY ORAL ORDER 12-05-2025 In writ petition bearing CWJC No. 16088 of 2021, a statement was recorded on 9.3.2022. Certain observations were made by this Court. It was also observed that this Court expects all the departments to follow the same pattern as regards payment of admitted dues. Relevant paragraphs of the said order dated 9th of March, 2022,is reproduced below:- "We have a bunch of cases where same question is involved regarding harassment caused to the common citizen in making timely payment despite the dues being admitted by the Department.
Mr. Kumar Ravi, Secretary, Building
Patna High Court CWJC No.15130 of 2024(5) dt.12-05-2025 2/3 Construction Department, Government of Bihar, Patna is present today before us. He has assured the Court that necessary instructions shall be issued for making it mandatory that admitted dues are paid as soon as it became due, in any case, not later than one month or within the statutory period provided for in the Contract. In case, there is an inordinate delay, the action of the Officer shall be departmentally inquired into, if necessary with the help of the Vigilance Department. In those cases, where the Court imposes interest for delayed payment beyond a particular period, the same shall be deducted from the salary of the Officials responsible for delay. He, however, assures that a copy of this order shall be handed over to the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna. We expect that the same pattern shall be followed in other departments as well.
Personal appearance of Mr. Kumar Ravi, Secretary, Building Construction Department, Government of Bihar, Patna is exempted for the next date of hearing."
In light of the aforesaid order dated 9.3.2022 passed in CWJC No. 16088 of 2021, the present writ petition is also disposed off in similar terms with a direction that the Respondents shall forthwith make payment of the admitted outstanding dues to be paid to the petitioner, in any case not
Patna High Court CWJC No.15130 of 2024(5) dt.12-05-2025 3/3 later than four weeks from today. It is further directed that in case, any claim of the petitioner is disputed or does not find favour with the Respondent authorities, a reasoned order shall be passed within the same time frame and duly communicated to the petitioner.
(A. Abhishek Reddy , J) Gauravkr/- U