Subodh Ray v. The State Of Bihar Thorugh The Dy. Secretary Of The Dept Of Mines, Patna

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2531 of 2024 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-770 Year-2024 Thana- SONEPUR District- Saran ====================================================== Subodh Ray Son of Ramesh Ray R/O-Village- Sabalpur, Pachiyari Tola, P.S.- Sonepur, District- Saran ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar thorugh the Dy. Secretary of the Dept of Mines, Patna Bihar 2.

The District Magistrate, Saran Bihar 3.

The Superintendent of Police, Saran Bihar 4.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Saran Bihar 5.

The Director and Mines of Superintendent, Saran Bihar 6.

The State House Officer, Sonepur, Saran Bihar ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Manoj Kumar For the Respondent/s :

Mr.S.C.11 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR ORAL ORDER 19-06-2025 Heard the learned counsels for the parties.

2. The present writ petition is filed for issuance of appropriate writ /writs, order/orders, direction/directions to the Respondent Authorities for release of Truck (BR-02AA-9091) which has been seized by Mines Development Officer/ Mines Inspector Saran at Chapra and FIR has been lodged in connection with Sonepur P.S. Case No. 770/2024 dt 19.09.2024 under Sections 223, 303(2) & 317(2) of BNS.

3. The petitioner's vehicle while carrying sand was intercepted by the Mines Development Officer/Mines Inspector, Saran at Chapra and on the basis of a complaint lodged by him, Sonpur P.S. Case No. 770 of 2024 dated 19th September 2024

Patna High Court CR. WJC No.2531 of 2024(3) dt.19-06-2025 2/3 under Section 223/303(2)/317(2) of the BNS was registered. The Mines Inspector seized a truck bearing registration no. BR02AA-9091, on the allegation that the sand in the said truck was extracted from Sabalpur Sand Ghat, however, the GPS Challan shows that permission to extract sand and loading of the sand on the truck in question was directed to be made from different sand ghats. It is the case of the defence story regarding the extraction of sand from Sabalpur Sand Ghat, came to be known from the driver of the offending vehicle.

4. It appears from the writ petition itself that a case was registered under different penal provisions of the BNS and not under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, or any other rule framed under the said Act. The Mines Department is entrusted with initiating confiscation proceedings against the owner of the said truck. However, when no case is instituted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 or Rules thereunder, any confiscation proceeding under the said act prima facie is not permissible.

5. Be that as it may, the instant writ petition has been filed upon the police authority to release the said truck. Section 497 of the BNS read with section 503 of the BNS provides the

Patna High Court CR. WJC No.2531 of 2024(3) dt.19-06-2025 3/3 procedure for disposal of the property pending trial. It is open for the learned jurisdictional magistrate to pass appropriate orders for proper custody of any property including the vehicle. In Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai & Ors. v. State of Gujarat reported in 2002(10) SCC 283. It is clearly stated that the investigating agency cannot reduce or diminish the roadworthiness of a seized vehicle by keeping it under the open sky for a considerable period of time, this will cause mechanical defects in the vehicle and in some cases, it cannot even be run.

6. In view of such circumstances, this Court is of the view that the vehicle ought to have been handed over to the petitioner. Therefore, in compliance of the provision contained in Section 503 of the BNS, the learned Magistrate is directed to dispose of the seized truck imposing proper conditions and execution of a bond amount, which shall be fixed by the learned Magistrate to release the said vehicle in favour of the registered owner of the same. Such order shall be passed within 15 days from the date of communication of this order.

7. The instant writ petition is thus disposed of. (Sandeep Kumar, J) Shishir/- U T