Patna High Court
Case Details
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.22626 of 2012 ====================================================== 1. Hira Lal Pandit S/O Late Jagdeo Pandit Resident of Village- Barki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 2. Monga Lal Pandit S/O Late Jagdeo Pandit Resident of Village- Barki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal Versus .... .... Petitioner/s 1. The State of Bihar, through Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya 2. Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya 3. Collector, Arwal 4. Land Reforms Deputy Collector, (L.R.D.C.), Arwal 5. Laxmi Devi W/O Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 6. Amar Nath Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 7. Vijay Bahadur Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 8. Ajay Kumar Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 9. Sanjay Kumar Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 10. Deva Kumar Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 11. Kamal Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 12. Sharda Kumari D/O Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 13. Urmila Kumari @ Devi D/O Late Nathun Singh Resident Of Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 14. Jai Prakash Singh Son of Late Ram Tabakiya Singh Resident of Village- Chhotki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.23533 of 2012 ====================================================== 1. Tilakdhari Pandit S/O Kailash Pandit R/O Village- Barki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 2. Yogendra Pandit S/O Kailash Pandit R/O Village- Barki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal Versus .... .... Petitioner/s 1. The State of Bihar, through Commissioner Magadh Division, Gaya 2. Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya 3. Collector, Arwal 4. Land Reforms Deputy Collector (L.R.D.C.), Arwal 5. Laxmi Devi W/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- 2
Legal Reasoning
Patna High Court CWJC No.22626 of 2012 (7) dt.18-12-2013 2 / 7 Arwal, District- Arwal 6. Amar Nath Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 7. Vijay Bhadur Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 8. Ajay Kumar Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 9. Sanjay Kumar Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 10. Deva Kumar Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 11. Kamal Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 12. Sharda Kumari D/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 13. Urmila Kumari @ Devi D/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Village- Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal 14. Jai Prakash Singh S/O Late Ram Tawakiya Singh R/O Village- Chhotki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, District- Arwal .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.22675 of 2012 ====================================================== 1. Chandarma Pandit Son of Late Jitwahan Pandit Resident of Village - Barki Ahiyapur, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal Versus .... .... Petitioner/s 1. The State of Bihar , through Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya 2. Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya 3. Collector, Arwal 4. Land Reforms Deputy Collector (L.R.D.C.), Arwal 5. Laxmi Devi W/O Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 6. Amar Nath Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 7. Vijay Bahadur Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 8. Ajay Kumar Singh Son of Late Nathu Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 9. Sanjay Kumar Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 10. Deva Kumar Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 11. Kamal Singh Son of Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 12. Sharda Kumari D/O Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 13. Urmila Kumari @ Devi D/O Late Nathun Singh Resident of Village - Sakri Chauki, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal 3 Patna High Court CWJC No.22626 of 2012 (7) dt.18-12-2013 3 / 7 14. Jai Prakash Singh Son of Late Ram Tabakiya Singh Resident of Village - Chhoti Ahiyapur, P.S. - Arwal, District - Arwal .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.22881 of 2012 ====================================================== 1. Lal Mati Devi W/O Jag Narayan Mistry R/O Vill-Barki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, Distt-Arwal 2. Surendra Mistry S/O Sheo Govind Mistry R/O Vill-Barki Ahiyapur, P.S.- Arwal, Distt-Arwal Versus .... .... Petitioner/s 1. The State of Bihar through Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya 2. Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya Null R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt- Arwal 3. Collector , Arwal Null R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal 4. Land Reforms Deputy Collector,(L.R.D.C.), Arwal Null R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal 5. Laxmi Devi W/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal 6. Amar Nath Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, Distt- Arwal 7. Vijay Bahadur Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal 8. Ajay Kumar Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, Distt-Arwal 9. Sanjay Kumar Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal 10. Deva Kumar Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, Distt-Arwal 11. Kamal Singh S/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, Distt-Arwal 12. Sharda Kumari D/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.- Arwal, Distt-Arwal 13. Urmila Kumari@Devi D/O Late Nathun Singh R/O Vill-Sakri Chauki, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal 14. Jai Prakash Singh S/O Late Ram Tawakiya Singh R/O Vill-Chhotki Ahiyapur, P.S.-Arwal, Distt-Arwal
Legal Reasoning
.... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Pramod Kumar Singh, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr. K.P. Gupta, SC16 Mr. Waliur Rahman, Adv. Mr. Abhishek, Adv. ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN ORAL ORDER 4 Patna High Court CWJC No.22626 of 2012 (7) dt.18-12-2013 4 / 7 7 18-12-2013 Heard Mr. Pramod Kumar Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. Waliur Rahman, learned A.C. to S.C.16 for the State and Mr. Abhishek, learned counsel for the private respondent Nos. 5 to 13 in all the four writ petitions. In each of the writ petition the petitioners have questioned the order passed by the respondent No.2, Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya whereby the Commissioner exercising revisional jurisdiction under the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the „Act‟) has allowed the Ceiling Revision Case Nos. 61, 59, 60 and 62 of 2007 impugned in the respective writ petitions. The petitioners herein are the purchasers whose purchase was sought to be pre-empted by the private respondent by filing an application under Section 16(3) of the Act inter alia on grounds of being co-sharers. The attempt by the pre-emptor private respondents was rejected by the Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Arwal and affirmed by the Collector, Arwal vide orders as contained in Annexures-3 and 4 of the respective writ petitions. The pre-emptor not being satisfied filed revisions before the Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya which has been allowed by the impugned order. The order passed by the Commissioner, 5 Patna High Court CWJC No.22626 of 2012 (7) dt.18-12-2013 5 / 7 Magadh Division, Gaya in the respective writ petition is in exercise of revisional jurisdiction and impugned in the respective writ petitions. Mr. Singh appearing for the petitioners has raised a very short question of law. He submits that in terms of the provisions underlying Section 32 of the Act, no such revisional jurisdiction is vested in the Commissioner. He submits that the revisional jurisdiction against the appellate order of the Collector or the Commissioner lies before the Member, Board of Revenue. Contesting the arguments, it has been argued by Mr. Abhishek appearing for the private respondents that there is no infirmity in the impugned order in view of the amendment to the Act vide the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Amendment Act, 2006 (Bihar Act 10 of 2006) which amply empowers the Commissioner to hear revisions. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and I have perused the records. The only issue which requires adjudication is whether the exercise of jurisdictional revision by the Commissioner is in consonance with the provisions of the act as amended from time to time. Section 32 of the Act reads as under: 6 Patna High Court CWJC No.22626 of 2012 (7) dt.18-12-2013 6 / 7 “32. Revision to the Board of Revenue.-(1) A revision shall lie to the Board of Revenue from any appellate order passed by a Collector2 (or a Commissioner) within thirty days of such order.” A perusal of the provisions of Section 32 more than manifests that revisional powers to test the order passed by a Collector or a Commissioner in exercise of appellate powers, is vested in the Board of Revenue under the provisions of the Act. The provisions of the Bihar Act 10 of 2006 runs as under: “2. Amendment of sub-section (3) of section -16 of the said Act.- Section-16(3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 is hereby amended to the extent given below:- The revision, against the order passed by the Collector or Additional Collector under Section-16(3) of the Act will be before the Divisional Commissioner who after hearing the parties shall pass orders in the case filed before him.” The amendment aforementioned, in clear terms provides that an order passed by the Collector or Additional Collector in exercise of original jurisdiction under Section 16(3) of the Act is revisable by the Commissioner and not an appellate order passed by the Collector. The legal position is self eloquent from the provision underlying Section 32 which clearly provides that all appellate orders of the Commissioner and Collector are revisable by the Board of Revenue. In view of the legal position explained, the orders impugned 7 Patna High Court CWJC No.22626 of 2012 (7) dt.18-12-2013 7 / 7 in the writ petitions cannot be upheld and are accordingly set
Decision
aside. The writ petitions are allowed. The order however would not preclude the private respondents to take recourse to the remedies as may be available to them under law. Bibhash/- (Jyoti Saran, J)