IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.10310 of 2011 1. Most.Manju Devi w/o late Hari Mistri. 2. Shravan Mistri s/o Basudeo Mistri. 3. Trilokinath Mistri s/o Basudeo mistri. All are the residents of village & Post Chintamanichak Ward no.22 (Sahabegpur) P.S. Mokama, District- Patna. Versus 1. The State Of Bihar. 2. The Collector, Patna. 3. The District Land Acquisition Officer, Collectorate, Patna. 4. The Circle Officer, Pandarak Block, Patna. ----------- 2 1.7.2011 The petitioners claim to have purchased, by registered sale deed, certain lands in the year 1964 and state that they have been paying rent also in respect thereof. The lands appertain to Khata no. 350, Khesra nos.579, 590 and 611 totalling to 43.5 decimals in Mouza Sarhan Bhag-2,Thana no.13, P.S. Pandarak, District- Patna. These lands were acquired for construction of thermal power station by the National Thermal Power Corporation . The petitioners assert that they have been representing the authorities right from beginning regarding payment of compensation to them in respect of the said lands but nothing was done. On persuading the matter, it disclosed that the District Land Acquisition officer, Patna, had made payment to some other persons on allegedly forged documents. Upon discovery of these, Land Acquisition Case no. 5/2006-07 was instituted before the Land Acquisition Officer, Patna, for enquiry and payment of compensation to the petitioners. The petitioners’ grievance is that the matter is pending and nothing is being done. No enquiry is being made nor the petitioners being told 2 why they are not entitled to receive the compensation. This is only to cover up irregularity committed in the office of the Land Acquisition Officer. The pleadings, in my view, are grossly inadequate for this Court to adjudicate the matter. As the petitioners themselves state that Land Acquisition Proceeding no. 5 of 2006-07 is pending in this relation before the Land Acquisition Officer, Patna ,I grant liberty to the petitioners to approach to the said officer for redressal of their grievances in accordance with law.. The Land Acquisition Officer would enquire into the matter expeditiously and conclude the proceedings also expeditiously. In case he finds that the petitioners are not entitled to compensation, he would communicate detailed reasons thereof to the petitioners and in case he finds that the petitioners are entitled to compensation, he would ensure payment thereof in accordance with law within three months from petitioners’ filing application. With the aforesaid observations and directions, the writ petition is disposed of. Singh ( Navaniti Prasad Singh, J.)