IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.5588 of 2007 Ram Ratan Singh, son of Amir Singh, resident of Village- Rassalpur, Police Station and District- Sheikhpura. Versus 1. The State of Bihar. 2. The District Magistrate, Sheikhpura. 3. The Addl. District Magistrate, Sheikhpura. 4. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sheikhpura. 5. The Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Sheikhpura. 6. The Anchal Adhikari, Sheikhpura. ----------- 02- 27.1.2009 Heard Mr. Chittaranjan Sinha for the petitioner, and Mr. Ram Chandra Thakur, learned Standing Counsel No.4 (Ceiling). 2. According to the writ petition, the petitioner submitted an application for settlement of the following lands in question: eksStk Fkkuk ua0 [kkrk ua0 [ksljk ua0 jdok jlyiqj 159 81 372 1&25 ,d ,dM+ iphl fM0 The Same was registered as Land Settlement Case No.1 of 2001-02. By his order dated 28.3.2004 (Annexure-9), the learned L.R.D.C., Sheikhpura, recommended the petitioner’s case for settlement of the aforesaid land. The petitioner complains before this Court that the matter has remained pending with the learned Collector of the district. Therefore, he may be directed to dispose of the petitioner’s application of settlement on merits. 2 3. Learned counsel for the respondents has placed on record his counter affidavit, wherein it is stated that major portion of the aforesaid land is really part of a pond being used by the general public. The respondent authorities have, however, no objection if the petitioner’s case for settlement is considered for any other land. 4. This writ petition is, therefore, disposed of with a direction to the learned Collector of the district of Sheikhpura to dispose of the petitioner’s application on merits. However, if he comes to the conclusion that part or whole of the plot in question is covered by a pond or is being used for any other object of public utility, it will be open to him to consider the petitioner’s case for settlement of an equivalent portion of Government land as per the law and the established procedure. This Court will be pleased if the entire process is completed within a period of four months from the date of receipt and/or production of a copy of this order. 5. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. (S K Katriar, J.) S.K.Pathak/ 3