Dharmendra Kumar v. The State of Bihar through Secretary Excise and Prohibition Department

====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s For the Respondent/s ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. B. BAJANTHRI HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. B. PD. SINGH Mr.Sumit Shekhar Pandey Mr.Standing Counsel (23) : : ORAL ORDER (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. B. BAJANTHRI) 2 31-07-2025 Heard learned counsels for the parties.

In the instant writ petition, petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):- directing

(i) For issuance of a writ in the any other appropriate order/orders, direction/directions respondents to release the vehicle of the petitioner which is a Mahindra Bolero Maxx van having Registration No. BR 06GG 2629, Engine No.-LYR4C16093 and MAIRD2LYKR6C23355 Chassis No. which has been seized by the State officials under the FIR bearing Kateya P.S. Case No. 331/2024 u/s 317(5)/3(5) of BNS and 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Patna High Court CWJC No.10179 of 2025(2) dt.31-07-2025 Amendment Act, 2018 dated 30.03.2024; And/or (ii) For any other order/orders, relief/reliefs for which the petitioner may be entitled in the eyes of law.

In support of the aforementioned relief, there is no demand before the competent authority, in particularly, under Rule 12 A of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 read with amended sub Rule 2 of Rule 12 A in the year 2022 and

In the absence of demand before the competent authority, the instant writ petition filed for direction under Article 226 for a writ of mandamus is not maintainable or it is premature. Accordingly, the instant writ petition stands disposed of as premature.

Disposal of the instant writ petition would not be a hurdle for the petitioner to invoke remedy under Rule 12A of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 including amended provisions in the year 2022 and 2023. If such application is submitted in the prescribed form before the competent authority, the competent authority shall pass speaking order within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of such application.

If the confiscation proceedings of the subject matter of vehicle has attained finality, in that event, petitioner is Patna High Court CWJC No.10179 of 2025(2) dt.31-07-2025 at liberty to prefer an appeal before the appropriate authority.

With the above observation, instant writ petition stands disposed of. (P. B. Bajanthri, J) ( S. B. Pd. Singh, J) abhishekkr/- U