IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.13987 of 2007 MADHVENDRA KUMAR SINGH SON OF LATE BAIDHNATH PRASAD SINGH, PROPRIETOR, MADHO SHING & SONS, SONEPUR, SARAN, BIHAR RESIDENT OF VILLAGE SONPUR, P.S. SONPUR, DISTRICT SARAN. Versus 1. THE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVT. OF INDIA, NEW DELHI. 2. MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVT. OF INDIA, NEW DELHI THROUGH THE SECRETARY. 3. THE SECRETARY, GOVT. OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, NEW DELHI. 4. THE UNDER SECRETARY, GOVT. OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, NEW DELHI. 5. THE SECRETARY, TOURISM DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA. ----------- For the petitioner :- Mr. Niraj Kumar For the Union of India :- Mr. Satyendra Kumar Jha, C.G.C. For the State :- Mr. Md. Anis Akhtar, A.C. to AAG X ----- 2 08/03/2010 An International conference on the heritage of Nalanda was held at Nalanda from 12.02.2006 to 14.02.2006. It was a prestigious conference where more than 300 delegates including 200 from foreign countries participated. There were many eminent personalities and scholars who presented their papers and the conference was held with much fanfare. It is the petitioner’s contention that looking at the importance of such a meet, the Secretary Tourism, - 2 - Government of Bihar assigned him the responsibility of making arrangements which included preparation of stage, various gates and Pandals, in addition providing light, sound and generator sets. All this was done at the shortest possible time. It is stated that the conference was a success and many a people walked away with the laurel of organizing such a show but the petitioner has been left now with all the liabilities because the bills submitted by him as back as on 27.03.2006 has not been settled and finalized. The petitioner was asked to obtain certificate from the concerned supervisor as well as certification that the work was done satisfactorily. All that was obtained and submitted. There is evidence on record that many a communications have been made between the Secretary, Department of Culture, Government of Bihar as well as one Under Secretary Chhotelal, Department of Culture, Govt. of India. All the necessary information were forwarded in the communications made between the years 2006 and 2007 but nothing seems to have been done by the authorities of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The petitioner decided to file a writ application seeking a direction upon both the Union of India as well as - 3 - Government of Bihar to settle the bills. No counter affidavit till date has been filed on behalf of the Union of India. A counter affidavit on behalf of the State of Bihar has been filed. The stand of the State otherwise is that as far back as on 29.5.2006 the details of the various heads under which arrangement had been made and expenses had to be made had been provided to the Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Culture. There are other reminders as well certifying the work done by the petitioner but in absence of release of funds, the petitioner has not been paid his money. The Court fails to understand how such matters are dealt with by the Government of India. The communications have gone un-responded for many a years. After all if the organization of the International conference had to be made by the State of Bihar at the dictates of the Central Government and the Central Government had a responsibility to meet the expenses, then necessary decision and release of funds ought to have been done soon thereafter. The reason for not doing so is not understood. The writ application stands disposed of with a - 4 - direction to the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India that he shall take cognizance of the communications made in this regard with the Ministry and shall pass appropriate order for release of funds so that the petitioner can be paid his rightful dues which has not been done in the last four years. The Court expects the decision within a period of two months from the date of production or communication of a copy of this order. The State Of Bihar will do the needful thereafter. AMIN (Ajay Kumar Tripathi, J.)