IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.6439 of 2010 SMT. MADHURI DEVI W/O LATE MATHURA PRASAD SAH R/O VILLAGE AND P.O.- SAHU PARBATTA, P.S.- PARBATTA, DISTT.- BHAGALPUR Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR 2. THE COLLECTOR, DISTT.- PURNEA (BIHAR) 3. THE COLLECTOR, BHAGALPUR, BIHAR 4. THE CIRCLE OFFICER, DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNEA 5. UMESH RAM S/O JAGDEO RAM R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 6. RAMESH RAM S/O JAGDEO RAM R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 7. ABHINANDAN RISHI S/O BALDEO RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 8. BILASH RISHI S/O KUTAN RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 9. JAWAHAR RISHI S/O DHODHAI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 10. BACHU RISHI S/O UCHIT RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 11. BHUMI RISHI S/O KUNJI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 12. RAMU RISHI S/O KIRU RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 13. SURESH RISHI S/O DULAI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 14. SITARAM RISHI S/O CHARITRA RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 15. RAJU RISHI S/O CHARITRA RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 16. ASHARFI RISHI S/O KALLA RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 17. BINDESHWARI RISHI S/O ASHARFI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 18. LAXMAN RISHI S/O JAGO RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 19. NAGO RISHI S/O MUNNA RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 20. SAKALDEO RISHI S/O RAMU RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 21. SUKHO RISHI S/O JAGESHWAR RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 22. KOKAI RISHI S/O JAGDEO RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 23. BECHAN RISHI S/O SIRU RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 24. BHUTO RISHI S/O SIRU RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 25. BOKU RISHI S/O MAHABIR RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA - 2 - 26. BISHO RISHI S/O SUKHDEO RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 27. GHUSO RISHI S/O SAINI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 28. BHIKHARI RISHI S/O SEVAK RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 29. SAGONI RISHI S/O SAHDEO RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 30. BINOD RISHI S/O CHHEDI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 31. SADANAND RISHI S/O NAGESHWAR RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 32. BEDANAND RISHI S/O NAGESHWAR RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 33. KARE RISHI S/O RANI RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT.- PURNIA 34. MOSOMAT RADHIA DEVI W/O GANPAT RISHI R/O VILL.- DHOKWA MOUZA, NIRPUR, P.S.- DHAMDAHA, DISTT. PURNIA. ------------ 03. 16.04.2010 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the State, SC-1, Ceiling. 2. Petitioner is the land holder whose lands were declared surplus in connection with Land Ceiling case No.1387 of 1973 whereafter the surplus land was also acquired under Section 15(1) of the Bihar Land Reforms(Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961(hereinafter referred to as the Act) published in the gazette dated 8.9.1984, validity whereof was considered by this Court and the gazette notification quashed under orders dated 2.9.1998 passed in C.W.J.C. No.10286 of 1996, Annexure-1 on the ground that before acquiring the surplus land petitioner was not allowed right to exercise option under Section-9 of the Act. This court in appreciation of the submission raised while quashing the gazette notification issued under Section-15(1) of the Act dated 8.9.1994 acquiring the surplus land directed the authorities to grant the petitioner opportunity to exercise option and to choose the lands - 3 - which is to be retained by her within the unit admissible. In compliance of the direction of this Court petitioner filed petition dated 12.9.1998 which is contained in Anenxure-2 to this application and requested the Collector, Bhagalpur to grant her right to exercise option in terms of Section-9 of the Act. 3. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that till date petition dated 12.9.98, Annexure-2 has not been considered by the authorities and the matter is still pending. It is further submitted that during the pendency of the writ case and before passing of the orders dated 2.9.1998, Annexure-1 the authorities had distributed the surplus land acquired under gazette notification dated 8.9.1994 but the distribution made in the light of the notification acquiring the surplus land should have been cancelled or recalled by the authorities in the light of the orders of this Court dated 2.9.1998 as the notification acquiring the surplus land was quashed by this Court under orders dated 2.9.1998 but the authorities did not pass any order recalling the distribution of the surplus land. Recently petitioner learnt by filing application under right to Information Act that authorities have not permitted her to exercise right of option in compliance of the orders of this Court dated 2.9.1998 and the settlees of the earlier surplus land are trying to create problem over the lands of the petitioner and to avoid such problem petitioner approached this Court for a direction to the Collector, Bhagalpur to consider the application dated 12.9.1998, Annexure-2 so that the purcha holder may not disturb the possession of the petitioner over the lands in question, which is within her ceiling - 4 - unit. 4. Having heard counsel for the petitioner and the State, I am of the view that the controversy raised in this application can be taken care of by the Collector, Bhagalpur provided he considers and disposes of the petition dated 12.9.1998, Annexure-2 as under orders dated 20.11.2009, the Collector, Purnia in Misc. Case No.07 of 2009, Annexure-5 when moved by the petitioner on the allegation that private respondents are trying to interfere with her possession over the lands which is within her ceiling unit, the Collector, Purnia denuded himself of the authority saying that the records of the ceiling case being in custody of the Collector, Bhagalpur petitioner should be well advised to move the Collector, Bhagalpur for redressal of her grievance. 5. Let the Collector, Bhagalpur consider and dispose of the application dated 12.9.1998, Annexure-2 as early as possible, in any case within one month from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order before the Collector. It goes without saying that the Collector, Bhagalpur and Purnia should ensure that possession of the petitioner over the lands in question which is within her ceiling unit is not disturbed by the so called purcha holder. 6. This writ application is, accordingly, disposed of. Rajesh/ (V.N.Sinha, J.)