IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.10184 of 2010 1. UMESH PRASAD SINGH, S/O LATE FEKU SINGH, R/O VILLAGE MADHEY ANCHAL AND P.S. NABINAGAR, DISTRICT- AURANGABAD. 2. BIRENDRA KUMAR SINGH, S/O LATE MURARI SINGH, R/O VILLAGE MADHEY ANCHAL AND P.S. NABINAGAR, DISTRICT- AURANGABAD. 3. ANUGRAH NARAYAN SINGH, S/O LATE LAL MOHAN SINGH, R/O VILLAGE MADHEY ANCHAL AND P.S. NABINAGAR, DISTRICT- AURANGABAD. 4. MAHENDRA PRASAD SINGH, S/O SRI BABU LAL SINGH, R/O VILLAGE MADHEY ANCHAL AND P.S. NABINAGAR, DISTRICT- AURANGABAD. 5. UDAY PRATAP SINGH, S/O LATE HEERA SINGH, R/O VILLAGE MADHEY ANCHAL AND P.S. NABINAGAR, DISTRICT- AURANGABAD. 6. VISHWANATH SINGH, S/O LATE NATHU SINGH, R/O VILLAGE MADHEY ANCHAL AND P.S. NABINAGAR, DISTRICT- AURANGABAD - Petitioners. Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE CHIEF SECRETARY. 2. THE SPECIAL SECRETARY, REVENUE AND LAND REFORMS DEPARTMENT,GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA. 3. THE DIRECTOR, LAND ACQUISITION,GOVT. OF BIHAR,PATNA. 4. THE COMMISSIONER,MAGADH DIVISION, GAYA. 5. THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE,AURANGABAD. 6. THE SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER,AURANGABAD, DISTRICT-AURANGABAD. 7. THE CIRCLE OFFICER,NABINAGAR, DISTRICT-AURANGABAD. 8. THE CIRCLE OFFICER,BARUN, DISTRICT-AURANGABAD. 9. NEW NABINAGAR POWER GENERATION COMPANY THROUGH ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SRI TUFANI RAM, NABINAGAR, AURANGABAD. 10. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, N.P.G.C., NABINAGAR, AURANGABAD. 11. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, N.P.G.C., NABINAGAR, AURANGABAD – Respondents.. with CWJC No.11822 of 2010 1. BABAN PRASAD SINGH S/O LATE MUKHDEO SINGH R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 2. KANAHAIYA SINGH S/O LATE BADSAH SINGH R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 3. SURESH YADAV S/O LATE JAGDISH YADAV R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 4. RAM GOVIND YADAV S/O SRI SRI KAWAL YADAV R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 5. SANJAY KUMAR SINGH S/O SRI YUGESHWAR SINGH R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 6. BHUPENDRA KUMAR SINGH S/O LATE MAHADEO SINGH R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 7. BIRENDRA SINGH S/O SRI KAMESHWAR SINGH R/O VILL.- RAHARA, P.S.- NAVI NAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD – Petitioners. Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE CHIEF SECRETARY, BIHAR, PATNA 2. THE SPECIAL SECRETARY, REVENUE AND LAND REFORMS DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA 3. THE DIRECTOR, LAND ACQUISITION, GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA 4. THE COMMISSIONER, MAGADH DIVISION, GAYA 5. DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, AURANGABAD 6. THE SUBDIVISIONAL OFFICER, AURANGABAD, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 7. THE CIRCLE OFFICER, NABINAGAR, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 8. THE CIRCLE OFFICER, BARUN, DISTT.- AURANGABAD 9. NEW NABINAGAR POWER GENERATION COMPANY THROUGH ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SRI TUFANI RAM, NABINAGAR, AURANGABAD 10. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, N.P.G.C. NABINAGAR, AURANGABAD 11. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, N.P.G.C. NABINAGAR, AURANGABAD – Respondents. ----------- 2 5 11.8.2010 Heard learned counsel for the parties. The main grievance of the villagers of Madhey, Rahra, Kusumha, Chourahi, Ankuraha, Sibanpur and Majhiaon under Nabinagar Anchal in the district of Aurangabad is that the notices under the Land Ceiling Act were published in daily ‘Aaj’ and ‘Qaumi Tanzeem’ which are not widely circulated news papers. The petitioners along with eighty five others filed an objection before the Chief Minister, Bihar stating therein that their lands have a high yield and, therefore, these lands should not be acquired. Obviously the petition indicates that at least ninety two villagers had knowledge of the fact that acquisition proceedings were taking place. Irrespective of the stand of the parties, it is obvious that the petitioners had knowledge of the proceedings even before 2.7.2008 when the writ petition was filed before this court. The State will publish a notice in two leading newspapers, such as, Hindustan (Hindi) and Hindustan Times that all the persons whose lands are to be acquired should appear before the Collector within one week, from the date of its publication and the Collector may dispose of the matter within two weeks or so depending on the number of persons, who file their objections. The notice should name the villages, khata numbers and plot numbers of the lands in order to avoid further delay and harassment. Thereafter, the Collector will proceed in accordance with law. It is made clear that no objection with respect to change of venue can be entertained by the Collector at this stage of the proceeding. It is further made clear that Nabinagar Power General Company is a 3 necessary party in this matter. These writ petitions are disposed of with the aforesaid observations. haque (Sheema Ali Khan, J.)