IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.5943 of 2010 SHANKAR SAHANI S/O LATE LAKSHUMAN SAHANI R/O VILL PUAR HOUSE, P.S. BAGAHA, DISTT-WEST CHAMPARAN Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE SECRETARY, RELIEF AND REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA 2. THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE WEST CHAMPARAN, BETTIAH 3. THE DEPUTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER WEST CHAMPARAN AT BETTIAH 4. THE SUB-DIVISIONAL OFFICER BAGAHA, DISTT- WEST CHAMPARAN 5. THE ANCHAL ADHIKARI BAGAHA-I, DISTT-WEST CHAMPARAN ----------- For the petitioner: M/s. B.N.Mishra, S.N.Rai and B.K.Mishra, Advocates For the State : Mr. Amarendra Kumar, AC to GP XI ----------- 5. 14.7.2010 The grievance of the petitioner is that his boat was requisitioned by order dated 25.7.2002 by the Circle Officer , Bagaha-I and since then he has been plying the same during the period of flood every year since 2002 but despite assurance, the Circle Officer has not made any payment till date. In the counter affidavit filed by the Circle Officer, Bagaha, it is stated that although the petitioner was ordered to ply the boat in the year 2002, he did not provide service and no log book was prepared. All the 2 statements made by the petitioner are denied and it is stated that only during the year 2007-08 the petitioner provided service for 30 days for which there is existence of log book also and payment of Rs. 1950/- has been ordered. In the above circumstances, let the authorities make payment of Rs. 1950/- to the petitioner within a period of one month from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. This Court however, is surprised that the boat of the petitioner was requisitioned as far back as in the year 2002 and thereafter there has been no order of derequisition of the same. Once such a requisition had been made by the authorities, on account of existence of floods it is quite surprising that the boat and services of the petitioner had not been availed. Considering the fact that the petitioner is a poor and illiterate person, there is possibility of exploiting him as he would hardly know that log books are prepared and kept in such matters. The District Magistrate, West Champaran, Bettiah is directed to ensure that an enquiry is made in the matter so that if any wrong doing is taking place and 3 poor boatman is exploited by the local authorities, then appropriate action may be taken. Let the same be done within a period of three months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. The writ application is accordingly disposed of with the aforesaid observations and directions. S. Pandey ( Ramesh Kumar Datta, J.)