Patna High Court - Orders
Siddheshwar Vidyarthy vs The State Of Bihar on 18 December, 2025
Author: Alok Kumar Pandey
Bench: Alok Kumar Pandey
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.16861 of 2025
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1. Siddheshwar Vidyarthy Son of Late Janeshwar Singh, resident of Village-
Chainpur, P.S.- Deo, District Aurangabad.
2. Parmendra Kumar Mishra, Son of Late Nalini Ranjan Mishra, Resident of
Nalini Ranjan Mishra Road, near Co-operative Bank, Aurangabad, P.S.-
Town Thana, District Aurangabad.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Old
Secretariat Building, Patna.
2. The Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Art, Culture and Archeology
Department, Government of Bihar, Old Secretariat Building, Patna.
3. Archaeological Survey of India Patna Circle, Patna.
4. The Chairman Bihar State Religious Trust Board, Patna.
5. The District Magistrate, Aurangabad.
6. The Divisional Forest Officer, Aurangabad.
7. The Sub Divisional Officer, Aurangabad.
8. The Secretary, Trust Board, Deo and Umga, Aurangabad.
... ... Respondent/s
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Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Suman Saurabh, Advocate
For the U.O.I. : Mr. Kumar Gangesh Gunjan, CGC
Dr. K.N. Singh, ASG
Mr. Shivaditya Dhari Sinha, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Advocate General
For the Trust Board : Mr. Ganpati Trivedi, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Saurabh Suman, Advocate
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CORAM: HONOURABLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR PANDEY
ORAL ORDER
(Per: HONOURABLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE)
4 18-12-2025The present writ application has been filed in the form of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for the following reliefs:
"16. That this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to declare the Deo and Patna High Court CWJC No.16861 of 2025(4) dt.18-12-2025 2/3 Umga temple complexes as protected archaeological monuments under the relevant provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or any other competent authority to undertake immediate conservation, restoration, and protection of these sites; order the removal of all unauthorized constructions within and around the temple complexes; impose a complete ban on further unauthorized construction and modernizaion activities at these heritage sites; direct the identification and prosecution of individuals or entities responsible for damage or illegal construction; ensure that only qualified conservation experts are entrusted with restoration work; mandate the deployment of adequate security personnel to prevent vandalism, idol smuggling, and further degradation; appoint a committee of independent experts to assess the the extent of damage and recommend urgent conservation measures; and pass such other orders or directions as may be deemed just and necessary in the interest of justice and heritage preservation."
2. Considering the nature of the reliefs sought, the Patna High Court CWJC No.16861 of 2025(4) dt.18-12-2025 3/3 petitioners are directed to submit a fresh representation before the District Magistrate, Aurangabad (Respondent No. 5). Upon receipt of such representation, the respondent No. 5 shall examine the matter and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law within a reasonable period of time.
3. With the aforesaid observation, the present writ application stands disposed of.
4. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.
(Sudhir Singh, ACJ) (Alok Kumar Pandey, J) Nilmani/ Anushka/-
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