IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.13648 of 2009 ***** 1. NAKA SAHANI & ORS S/O MUNSHI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S. SONEPUR, DISTT.-CHAPRA 2. AKALU SAHANI S/O TANTAN SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 3. SATYENDRA SAHANI S/O AKALU SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 4. RAMPHAL SAHANI S/O RAM BALAK SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 5. LALAN SAHANI S/O MUNNA SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 6. MUKESH SAHANI S/O RAM GULAM SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 7. MAHAVIR SAHANI S/O LATE RAGHUNANDAN SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 8. SANT LAL SAHANI, S/O LATE KARAM SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 9. LAGAN DEO SAHANI S/O LATE KARAN SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 10. RAJDEO SAHANI S/O LATE KARAN SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 11. RAKATU SAHANI S/O LAE KAPILDEO SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 12. SAHDEO SAHANI S/O LATE KARAN SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 13. NANHAK SAHANI S/O LATE BANSHI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 14. JHULAN SAHANI S/O LATE SHEO SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 15. MOHAN SAHANI S/O LATE KHARDAHARI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 16. SHATRUGHNA SAHANI S/O LATE RAM SEWAK SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 17. MUSAFIR SAHANI S/O LATE BABULAL SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 18. MANOJ SAHANI S/O SITARAM SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 19. SHAMBHU SAHANI S/O SUGGI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 20. SHANKAR SAHANI S/O LATE RAM PRASAD SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 21. SONI SAHANI S/O KRISHNA SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 22. SIPAHI SAHANI S/O RAMJI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 23. ASHOK SAHANI S/O SITARAM SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 24. CHHATHU SAHANI S/O NANHAK SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN - 2 - 25. DHANANJAY SAHANI S/O HARI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 26. SHAKALDEEP SHAHANI S/O PRAYAG SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 27. JOGI SAHANI S/O BHAWNESHWAR SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 28. SURAJ SAHANI S/O BHUNESHWAR SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 29. SAROJ SAHANI S/O PUNIT SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 30. RAMJEE SAHANI S/O MUNSHI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 31. RAJ KUMAR SAHANI S/O RAMJEENISH SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 32. RAMESH SAHANI S/O MUNSHI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 33. BHARAT SAHANI S/O RAM SEWAK SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 34. GANOR SAHANI S/O SHAKALDEEP SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 35. WAKIL SAHANI S/O JAYLAL SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 36. YUNGALI SAHANI S/O LATE JITU SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 37. KUNAL SAHANI S/O RAGHUVIR SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 38. MAHESH SAHANI S/O MUSAFIR SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 39. MONU SAHANI S/O RAGHUNI SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 40. SURESH SAHANI S/O BALESHWAR SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 41. CHANDESHWAR SAHANI S/O SHEO SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 42. BHOLA SAHANI S/O MANDAN SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 43. BALESHWAR SAHANI S/O CHHATHU SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 44. ARJUN SAHANI S/O JAYLAL SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTRICT-SARAN 45. MITHAI SAHANI S/O SHAKALDEEP SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 46. HARI MAHTO S/O LATE KHETAN MAHTO R/O VILLAGE-BAG RAJA MAN SINGH, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-CHAPRA 47. RAKESH SAHANI S/O SHRI VIJAY SAHANI R/O BAG RAJA MAN SINGH, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 48. SHATRUGHNA SAHANI S/O VIJAY SAHANI R/O BAG RAJA MAN SINGH, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 49. SANTOSH SAHANI S/O DASRATH SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 50. BIJENDRA SAHANI S/O OF RAM DAYAL SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI - 3 - 51. MAKKU SAHANI S/O MOSAFIR SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK HAJIPUR, P.S.- TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 52. NANHAK SAHANI S/O RAM PRASAD SAHANI R/O BALIGAON, CHAPRHA, P.S.- MAKER, DISTT.-SARAN 53. KISHORE SAHANI S/O ANIR SAHANI R/O BALIGAON, CHAPRHA, P.S.-MAKER, DISTT.-SARAN 54. MUKESH SAHANI S/O KIMILAL SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK, HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 55. NARESH SAHANI S/O JAGDISH SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK, HAJIPUR, P.S.- TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 56. AMARNATH SAHANI S/O LAKHAN SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK, HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 57. MOTI SAHANI S/O BASUDEO SAHANI R/O MORAHIYA MAKER, P.S.-MAKER, DISTT.-SARAN 58. DINANATH SAHANI S/O BHARAT SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK, HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 59. SHEONATH SAHANI S/O BHARAT SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK, HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 60. MAHESH SAHANI S/O BABULAL SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 61. RAJENDRA SAHANI S/O LATE SITARAM SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 62. JAGDISH SAHANI S/O SITARAM SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 63. MOHAN CHOUDHARY S/O GANGA CHOUDHARY R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 64. SURESH SAHANI S/O DEEPNARAYAN SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.- SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 65. MUKUL SAHANI S/O CHATRI SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 66. JAWAHIR SAHANI S/O GANGA SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 67. JOGI SAHANI S/O SITARAM SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 68. DEELIP SAHANI S/O LALDEO SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR, P.S.-SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 69. LAKHAN SAHANI S/O LATE SUKDEO SAHANI R/O ANDAR KILA, HAJIPUR, P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 70. ASHOK SAHANI S/O RAMDEO SAHANI R/O ANDAR KILA, HAJIPUR, P.S.- TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 71. DINESH SAHANI S/O RAMNATH SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK, HAJIPUR , P.S.-TOWN, DISTT.-VAISHALI 72. YOGINDRA SAHANI S/O RAM BALAK SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S. SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 73. RAMBALI SAHANI S/O AKALU SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S. SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 74. VIJAY SAHANI S/O PRADEEP SAHANI R/O VILLAGE-MEENA BAZAR, P.S. SONEPUR, DISTT.-SARAN 75. SANJAY SAHANI S/O LATE JAGDISH SAHANI R/O NAKHASH CHOWK , HAJIPUR, P.S. -TOWN ,DISTT - VAISHALI 76. ARJUN SAHANI S/O RAM ISHWAR SAHANI R./O NAKHASH CHOWK,HAJIPUR , P.S. - TOWN , DISTT - VAISHLI - 4 - 77. BIRENDRA SAHANI S/O MOHAR SAHANI VILL - SONEJPUR , MEENA BAZAR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 78. RAJU KUMAR S/O DINESH SAHANI R/O HAJIPUR , ANDER KILA , P.S. - TOWN , DISTT - VAISHALI 79. UPENDRA SAHANI S/O SHRI BHAGWAN SAHANI R/O MURHIYA , P.S. - MAKER , DISTT - SARAN 80. NANDU SAHANI S/O RAJA SAHANI R/O MURHIYA, P.S. - MAKER, DISTT - SARAN 81. RITLAL SAHANI S/O BHAGIRATH SAHANI R/O HAJIPUR ,ANDAR KILA , P.S - TOWN , DISTT - VAISHALI 82. ATWARI SAHANI S/O SARYUG SAHANI R/O HAJIPUR , ANDER KILA , P.S. - TOWN , DISTT - VAISHALI 83. WAKIL SAHANI S/O BAIDYANATH SAHANI R/O SAIDPUR , P.S. - PEHLEJA , DISTT - SARAN 84. RANJAY SAHANI S/O JAMDAR SAHANI R/O SAIDPUR , SONEPUR , P.S. - PAHLEJA ,DISTT - SARAN 85. PARMA SAHANI S/O AMBIKA SAHANI R/O SAIDPUR , SONEPUR , P.S. - PAHLEJA ,DISTT - SARAN 86. JAY MANGAL SAHANI S/O LATE BHOLA SAHANI R/O SAIDPUR , SONEPUR , P.S. - PAHLEJA ,DISTT - SARAN 87. BHOLA SAHANI S/O JAGDISH SAHANI R/O PAHLEJA , SAIDPUR , P.S. - PAHELEJA ,DISTT - SARAN 88. TUNTUN SAHANI S/O SHANKAR SAHANI R/O SONEPUR MINA BAZAR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 89. VIJAY SAHANI S/O MADAN SAHANI R/O SONEPUR , SAIDPUR , P.S. - PAHLEJA , DISTT - SARAN 90. PRAMOD SAHANI S/O RAM ISHWAR SAHANI R/O MEENA BAZAR , SONEP;UR, P.S- SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 91. BHOLA SAHANI S/O BASBARI SAHANI R/O SAIDPUR , SONEPUR , P.S. PAHLEJA , DISTT - SARAN 92. KALLU SAHANI S/O RAMESHWAR SAHANI R/O SAIDPUR , P.S.-SONEPUR ,DISTT - SARAN 93. NATHA SAHANI S/O LATE BUDHAN SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 94. RAMAKANT SAHANI S/O RAJENDRA SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 95. MAHENDRA SAHANI S/O JHAGARU SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 96. VIJAY SAHANI S/O JAGDISH SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 97. RAGHU SAHANI S/O SAHAYI SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 98. RAMJEE SAHANI S/O LATE SHEO SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 99. RAJENDRA SAHANI S/O BHOLA SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 100.JAGLAL SAHANI S/O BHOLA SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT - SARAN 101.SANTOSH KUMAR SAHANI S/O YOGENDRA SAHANI VILL - SAIDPUR SONEPUR , P.S. - SONEPUR , DISTT – SARAN …. …. Petitioners Versus - 5 - 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR 2. SECRETARY , DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT , GOVERNMENT ,OF BIHAR ,PATNA. 3. DISTRICT MAGISTRATE ,SARAN ,CHAPRA 4. DISTRICT MAGISTRATE ,MADHEPURA. 5. CIRCLE OFFICER, SONEPUR, DISTRICT SARAN. …. …. Respondents ----------- For the Petitioners : Mr.Ganesh Prasad Singh, Senior Advocate Mr. ShreeKant Pandey, Advocate For the State : Mr. P. K. Verma, Additional Advocate General-XI ----------- 3. 4.1.2010. Heard learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Additional Advocate General-XI for the State. There are 101 petitioners before the Court, who are small poor persons, who have owned boats. When the Kosi floods hit many parts of the north Bihar in the year 2008 on an emergent situation their boats along with other persons boats were requisitioned on an emergent basis. These petitioners belong to the district of Saran at Chapra. They state that an advance of Rs.5,000/- was paid, log-book opened and they were promised Rs.300/- per day for the period the boats were hired. The flood is over, the service has been rendered by the petitioners and all is forgotten now. Repeated efforts made by the petitioners to knock at the doors of the respondent authorities specially the District Magistrate, Saran has had no effect. They have been compelled to approach the High Court seeking a direction in this regard. The matter was taken up on 27.10.2009 and a direction was issued upon the State counsel to seek instructions from the District Magistrate, Saran as well as Madhepura and file their affidavits. Learned Additional Advocate General informs the Court that the direction of the Court was duly communicated by fax but he has not heard from the authorities on the issue till date. In - 6 - that view of the matter, he is not in a position to take any stand on behalf of the respondents to the claim of the petitioners. He, however, very fairly submits that a verification will be required to be done by the respondent authorities and the issues settled at the earliest because the petitioners are poor people with their boars as their main source of livelihood. In absence of the response of the State the court is left with no option but to direction the District Magistrate, Saran, who has been the requisitioning authority of the boats of all these petitioners, to depute a person duly competent to look into the records, verify the claim of these petitioners on the basis of their claim lodged before them by several representations contained in Annexure-6 and 7 which have been brought on record and thereafter take every steps which may be required to settle the dues and the claim of the petitioners at the earliest. In this regard the Court grants three months time to the respondent District Magistrate, Saran. If the disputes are not resolved and sorted out within the time frame there could be an occasion for this Court to deal with the concerned respondents in a more harsh fashion as may be required at that stage. This writ application stands disposed of with above direction. Let a copy of this order be handed over to learned Additional Advocate General-XI for communication. Pawan/- (Ajay Kumar Tripathi, J.)