IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.13509 of 2008 Suresh Raut, son of Late Bhola Raut, resident of Bhola M.P. Chowk, Jagjeevan Nagar, PS Bettiah, district Bettiah, West Champaran – Petitioner. Vs. 1) The State of Bihar through Secretary, Revenue Department, Bihar, Patna. 2) Secretary, Department of Revenue, Bihar, Patna. 3) Member, Board of Revenue, State of Bihar, Patna cum Ward Tribunal Bettiah Estate, Bettiah. 4) Dist. Magistrate, West Champaran, Bettiah. 5) Administrator, Bettiah Estate, Bettiah – Respondents. 3 20.9.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the State. This writ petition has been filed for setting aside the order contained in memo no. 892, dated 2.8.2008 by which the Board of Revenue has increased the crop charges for cultivation of land of Bettiah Estate from Rs.600/- per acre per year to Rs.2000/- per acre per year. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that at the time of settlement i.e. in the year 1999 the charge for cultivation of the land for one year was Rs.600/- for Dalits and Rs. 800/- per year for all others. The reasons behind the increase in the rate of cultivation of crop is that there has been a rise in the prices of wheat, rice and other crops from 1999 to 2011 and the Board of Revenue has, therefore taken into consideration this aspect and increased the rate. The decision of the Board of Revenue has not been 2 challenged in this writ petition. Counsel for the petitioner submits that any decision for increasing the rate of cultivation per acre by almost three times of the rates fixed by the Government is arbitrary and not permissible. It is submitted that the petitioner ought to have been given an opportunity to be heard in the matter. At this stage this court is not inclined to interfere with the order passed by the Board of Revenue as it is not before this court. However, liberty is given to the petitioner to file an objection before the Board of Revenue. If such an objection is filed it should be considered by the Board of Revenue and a decision should be communicated to the petitioner within four months. In the mean time the petitioner will pay the current rent until a final decision is taken by respondent no.3 in the matter. This writ petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid observations and directions. haque ( Sheema Ali Khan, J .)