Patna High Court - Orders
Deo Sharan Rai vs The State Of Bihar on 14 February, 2023
Author: Partha Sarthy
Bench: Partha Sarthy
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.11062 of 1999
======================================================
Deo Sharan Rai Son of Shiv Dhari Rai Resident of Village Bishanpur, P.O.
Andauli, Police Station Parihar, District- Sitamarhi.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. The Member Board of Revenue, Bihar, Patna.
3. The Additional Collector, Sitamarhi.
4. The Land Reform Deputy Collector, Sitamarhi.
5. Smt. Kailasiya Devi Wife of Khedu Rai Resident of Village Bishanpur, P.O.
Andauli, Police Station Parihar, District Sitamarhi.
6. Smt. Julfi Devi Wife of Sri Kishori Rai Resident of Village Bishanpur, P.O.
Andauli, Police Station Parihar, District Sitamarhi, at present residing at
village Zoka, P.O. Tandaspur, Police Station Bathnaha, District Sitamarhi.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Arvind Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Madhaw Prasad Yadav, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Ajay, G.A. 5
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY
ORAL ORDER
11 14-02-2023Heard learned counsel for the parties.
In the instant application, the petitioner has prayed for the following reliefs:
"(i) For quashing of the impugned order dated 5.2.1998, passed by the Hon'ble Sri B.B. Lal, the Member Board of Revenue, Bihar Patna (Annexure 6) and also quashing the order dated 15.5.1995, passed by the learned Additional Collector, Sitamarhi (Annexure 3) and further for affirming the order dated 27.9.1993, passed by the learned Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Sitamarhi, Sadar in Pre-Emption case no. 12 of Patna High Court CWJC No.11062 of 1999(11) dt.14-02-2023 2/5 1991-92 (Annexure 2).
(ii) For any other reliefs for which the petitioner is found entitled for"
At the outset it is submitted by learned counsel for the respondents-State that in view of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2019 read with judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Punyadeo Sharma and Ors. Versus Kamla Devi and Ors. reported in 2022(1) BLJ 434 (SC), the instant application which arises out of pre-emption application stands abated.
Relevant paragraphs of the aforesaid judgment in the case of Punyadeo Sharma (supra) is quoted hereinbelow:
"4. The question examined by the Division Bench of the High Court was whether an application for pre-emption was filed within three months of the registration as required by Section 16(3) of the Act or was it required to be filed within three months of the day of execution of the sale deed i.e. 9.2.1990. However, the said question does not survive for consideration in view of the subsequent development whereby the right of pre-emption itself has been taken away by the Bihar Act No. 6 of 2019 when the Act was amended. The Amending Act reads thus:
Patna High Court CWJC No.11062 of 1999(11) dt.14-02-2023 3/5 "The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2019
1. Short title, Extent and Commencement. - (1) This Act may be called The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2019.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Bihar.
(3) It shall come into force immediately.
2. Amendment in Section 16 of the Act, 1961. - (1) Sub Section (3) of Section-16 of the said Act is hereby repealed.
(2) In the Section-16 of the said Act, the following new sub section-(4) shall be added:-
(4)(i) After the repeal of sub section-(3) of Section-16 of this Act, all cases or proceedings pending before the State Government, the Board of Revenue, the Bihar Land Tribunal, the Divisional Commissioner, the Collector, the Additional Collector, the Deputy Collector Land Reforms or in any other Court, shall be deemed to be abated.
(ii) Pursuant to the repeal of Sub section-(3) of Section-16 of this Act, any purchase money together with a sum equal to 10% thereof, Patna High Court CWJC No.11062 of 1999(11) dt.14-02-2023 4/5 already legally deposited shall be refunded, without any interest, to the depositor.
...........................................................
7. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and find that the right of pre-emption, after the Amending Act, abates as Sub-section 4(i) is specifically dealing with all pending proceedings before whatsoever forum. Therefore, the right of pre-emption will stand abated on and after 25.2.2019 including the proceedings which were pending before any forum.
...........................................................
12. ................. Any other Court is wide enough to include the Constitutional Courts i.e. the High Court and the Supreme Court. ................... Thus, keeping in view the object of the Statute, purpose to be achieved and the express language of the Amending Act, all proceedings of pre- emption under the Act pending before any authority under the Act or before any Court shall stand abated."
In view of the above, it is ordered that the instant application stands abated.
It is further directed that in terms of the aforesaid order, it shall be open to the petitioner herein to withdraw the amount deposited by him in terms of section 16 of the Act in accordance Patna High Court CWJC No.11062 of 1999(11) dt.14-02-2023 5/5 with law.
The application stands disposed of as having abated.
(Partha Sarthy, J) Bibhash U