IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.11884 of 2009 1. GAURI DEVI Wife of Baldev Mistri resident of Village- Nagdih, Police Station- Rajgir, District- Nalanda. 2. Kanti Devi Wife of Late Nandu Manjhi resident of Village- Nagdih, P. S.- Rajgir, District- Nalanda. 3. Ganguli Devi @ Kari Devi Wife of Indradev Manjhi resident of Village-Malikpur, P. S.- Rajgir, District- Nalanda. . . . . . Petitioners. Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR through the District Magistrate, Nalanda at Bihar Sharif. 2. The Sub-Divisional Officer, Rajgir, Nalanda. 3. The District Land Acquisition Officer, Nalanda. 4. The Circle Officer, Rajgir Block, Nalanda. . . . . . Respondents. ----------- 3/ 07.10.2009 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and the State. Learned counsel submits that 70 decimals of land pertaining to khata no. 230, khesara no. 1099 was settled with petitioner no.1 Gauri Devi by settlement case no. 20/1992-93. Similarly 25 decimals of land of khata no. 230, khesra no. 1099 was settled with Juday Manjhi, who is father-in-law of petitioner no.2. It is further submitted that 22 decimals of land of khata no. 230 Khesra no. 1099 was settled with late Ramu Manjhi, father of Ganguli Devi (petitioner no.3), who claims to be his sole daughter. He further submits that though 117 decimals of land was acquired, compensation has been fixed for only 90 decimals of land pursuant to Land Acquisition Case no. 10/3-2000. It would appear from letter no. 653 dated 16.11.2002 that the District Land Acquisition Officer, Nalanda had written to Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda to decide the issue of compensation of award money under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act between the claimants. The grievance of the petitioners is that though more than 6 ½ years have passed, still the - 2 - award money has not been distributed to the claimants. This Court finds that the matter with apportion relating to preparation of award money has already been sent to Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda by letter dated 16.11.2002 of District Land Acquisition Officer, Nalanda contained in letter no. 653. As the matter has proceeded for a number of years, this court directs the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda to decide the compensation of award among the claimants within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order of this case. It would be open to the parties to put forth the claim before the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda. It will be open to the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda to satisfy himself regarding the share of claimants to whom the money would be paid. This application is, accordingly, disposed of. Uday/ (Samarendra Pratap Singh, J.)