IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.16715 of 2009 1. JAGAT RAI, son of Shri Kailash Rai resident of village – Rampur Tengarahi, PO- Rampur Tengarahi, PS- Jadopur, District Gopalganj 2. Raj Kumar Prasad, son of Shri Dharmnath Prasad resident of village, PO and PS- Jadopur, District Gopalganj 3. Vipin Rai, son of late Teja Rai resident of village – Mathia, PO- Mathia, PS- Kuchai Kote, District – Gopalganj ..........petitioners Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR 2. The Principal Secretary, Department of Sugar Cane Industry, Government of Bihar, Patna 3. The Cane Commissioner, Department of Sugar Cane Industry, Government of Bihar, Patna 4. The Cane Officer, Gopalganj 5. The District Magistrate, Gopalganj 6. The Sasamusa Sugar Works Ltd. Sasamusa through its Managing Director at and PS- Sasamusa, District Gopalganj 7. Shri Mahmood Ali, the Managing Director, Sasamusa Works Ltd. At and PS Sasamusa District- Gopalganj 8. Shri Vishnu Sugar Mills Ltd., Hrakhua, through its General Manager at Harakhua, PS Gopalganj town District Gopalganj 9. Shri P.R.S. Panikar, the General Manager, Shri Vihsnu Sugar Mills Ltd. at Harakhua, PS- Gopalganj Town District Gopalganj .............respondents ----------- 2 02-12-2009 Heard the parties. The petitioners have preferred this writ petition in public interest alleging that two sugar mills situated in the district of Gopalganj, Bihar namely, Sasamusa Sugar Works Ltd., respondent no.6 and Shri Vishnu Sugar Mills Ltd., respondent no.8 are acting illegally and harassing the farmers who grew sugarcane and supplied to those factories during crushing season 2007-2008 by not paying the difference in the value of sugarcane price finally determined. According to the petitioners another sugar mill in that area has paid such difference in price to the sugarcane growers/farmers but these two mills have paid only the amount of subsidy to the suppliers/farmers but no difference in 2 price which is said to be Rupees three per quintal. In the facts of the case, we are of the view that no notice need be issued to the respondents because it is the duty of the respondent officials such as Cane Commissioner, Government of Bihar, Patna and Cane Officer, Gopalganj to ensure that the sugar mills in question act according to law and do not harass the cane growers by withholding their lawful dues. The writ petition is, therefore, disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to approach the respondent no. 3, the Cane Commissioner, Department of Sugar Cane Industry, Government of Bihar, Patna and respondent no.4, the Cane Officer, Gopalganj along with a copy of this order. They shall ensure that lawful dues of the cane growers, if due to be paid by respondents no. 6 and 8, must be paid without any delay and in any case within three months. BKS/- (Shiva Kirti Singh, ACJ.) (Shyam Kishore Sharma, J.)