Liquor carrying vehicle to be released only after confiscation proceedings take place: High Court of Patna

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.20121 Jayendra Mohan S o Lakshmi Sah R o Fatehpur Wala P.S. Tajpur District The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary Registration Excise and Prohibition Department Government of Bihar Patna ... Petitioner s The District Magistrate cum Collector Gopalganj The Excise Commissioner Bihar Patna The Superintendent of Excise Gopalganj The Superintendent of Police Gopalganj ... Respondent s Mr.Satyendra Rai Advocate Mr.Kumar Manish S.C. 5 For the Petitioner s For the Respondent s CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE Date : 10 02 2021 learned counsel for the State Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Petitioner has prayed for the following reliefs: No BR33AD7045 “For issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ writs order orders direction directions commanding the respondents to releases the Swift Dzire Maruti Car bearing Chassis No MA3CZF63SJE353358 and Engine No K12MN2211551 in favour of the petitioner which has been seized in connection with Gopalganj Excise Case No.199 2020 registered for the offence punishable under Section 30(a) of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 and amendment Act 2018 on 16.08.2020 seized for the alleged Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 violation of Excise Act.” Learned counsel for the petitioner prays that the petition be disposed of in terms of order dated 9th January 2020 passed in CWJC No. 205919 titled as Md. Shaukat Ali Vs. The State of Bihar and subsequent order dated 14th January 2020 passed in CWJC No.171619 titled as Umesh Sah Versus the State of Bihar & Ors. and order dated 29.01.2020 passed in CWJC No.2050 of 2020 titled as Bunilal Sah objection to the same. Learned counsel for the respondents has no The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 hereinafter referred to as the Act) prohibits the manufacture storage distribution transportation possession sale purchase and consumption of any intoxicant or liquor unless so allowed in terms of the Act.Any intoxicant liquor material still utensil implement apparatus in respect of or by means of which such offence has been committed b) any intoxicant or liquor unlawfully imported transported manufactured sold or brought along with or in addition to any intoxicant liable to confiscation under clausec) any receptacle package or covering in which anything liable to confiscation under clauseis found and the other contents if any of such receptacle package or covering d) any animal vehicle vessel or other conveyance used for carrying the same e) Any premises or part thereof that may have been used for storing or manufacturing any liquor or intoxicant or for committing any other offence under this Act Explanation. The word “premises” include the immovable structure all moveable items within the structure and the land on which the premises is Under section 58 power to issue an order of confiscation vests with the District Collector Authorized officer who upon receipt of the report of the seizing officer detaining such propertyis required to pass an order. Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 This Court has been flooded with several petitions solely on account of non initiation of such proceedings of confiscation or passing of illegal orders with respect thereto Also on account of lack of parties pursing the remedies so provided under the Act. Consequently the court was faced with the following fact situations: where despite seizure no proceedings for confiscation under Section 58 were initiated the parties after obtaining interim relief for release of “things” under orders passed in different set of writ petitions did not participate in the confiscatory proceedings where the order of confiscation was neither communicated nor the parties made aware of such fact thus precluding them from filing appeal under Section 92 and Revision under Section 93 of the Act proceedings initiated under Section 92 93 were not concluded within a reasonable time either on account of inaction on the part of the authority(s or on account of non cooperation of the private parties be it for passing several orders. Resultantly this Court from time to time has been Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 In CWJC No.3245 of 2017 titled as Manish Kumar Chaudhary versus the State of Bihar & Ors. this Court vide order dated 18.01.20202 issued following directions: “As such as mutually prayed for the present writ petition is being disposed of on the following mutually agreed terms: Interim order dated 07.03.2017 passed in the instant writ petition directing release of the propertyshall continue to remain in operation till such time proceedings up to the stage of initiation of confiscatory proceedings and its culmination as also filing and culmination of the proceedings in the appeal as the case may be. This however would be subject to the petitioner(s) fully cooperating and not transferring alienating the property to any person or creating third party rights. It goes without saying that the property shall be maintained and retained in its original condition and not destroyed in any manner or its character changed. b) Wherever proceedings for confiscation have not started the Appropriate Authority constituted under the Act shall positively initiate the same within a period of four weeks from today. In any event petitioner undertakes to appear in the office of the concerned concerned District Magistrate on the 10th of February 2020 and apprise him of the passing of the order. The said Officer shall forthwith and not later than four weeks from today initiate the proceedings and after compliance of principles of natural justice take a decision thereupon within a period of In the event of the authority arriving at the conclusion directing confiscation of the property the petitioner shall positively file Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 the appeal within the statutory period as envisaged under Section 92 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 and the appellate authority shall positively decide the same within a period of two months Wherever confiscatory proceedings already stand concluded and if the petitioner so desires within four weeks from today or within the statutory period of limitation as the case may be positively file an appeal which shall be adjudicated on its own merit The issue of limitation shall not be raised by the State or come in the petitioner’s way of decision on merits. The said proceedings shall positively be concluded within a period of two months from the date of filing Petitioner undertakes to fully cooperate in all such proceedingsWhere appeal already stands filed petitioner shall appear before the said Authority on the 20th February 2020 and apprise him of the passing of the order. The Appellate Authority shall positively decide the same within a period of two months thereafter. g) With the decision in the appeal it shall be open for either of the parties to take recourse to such remedies as are available in accordance with law including approaching this Court on the same and subsequent cause of action. h) If the petitioner fails to cooperate does not or makes an endeavour of in any one of the proceedings referred to supra it shall be open for the authority to take a decision with regard to the property including taking back possession and putting it on sale in terms of the Act with the interim order deemed to have been vacated If the appellant chooses not to prefer an appeal within the said statutory period or as Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 directed herein it shall be open for the authority to take a decision with regard to the property including taking back possession and putting it on sale in terms of the Act and the interim order passed in the instant petition shall be deemed to have been j) With the outcome of the Special Leave PetitionNo.297416 titled as State of Bihar & Ors. etc. Vs. Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies Anr. parties including the petitioner would be at liberty to take recourse to such remedies as are permissible in law.” In CWJC No.20598 of 2019 titled as Md Shaukat Ali Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors. this Court vide order dated 09.01.2020 issued the following directions: “Without adjudicating the petitioner’s petition on merits we are of the considered view that interest of justice would be best met if the petition is disposed of in the following terms: a) Since the vehicle in question stands seized in relation to the FIR which stood registered long ago in case confiscation proceeding has not been initiated it must be initiated within a period of 15 days from today and that confiscation proceeding stands initiated we direct the appropriate authority under the Act to forthwith ensure that such proceedings be concluded not later than 30 days. b) The petitioner undertakes to make himself available in the office of the concerned appropriate authority empowered under Section 58 of the Act i.e. District Collector in his her office on 24.01.2020 at 10:30 A.M c) We further direct the appropriate authority to positively conclude the confiscation proceeding within next thirty days on appearance of the petitioner. If for whatever reason such proceeding cannot be concluded in that event it shall be open for the authority to take such measures as are permissible in law for release of the vehicle in question by way of Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 interim measure on such terms as may be deemed appropriate considering the attending facts and circumstances of the case d) If eventually the appropriate authority arrives at a conclusion that the property is not liable to be confiscated it shall be open for the petitioner to seek damages in accordance with law and have appropriate the erring initiated against Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the certified copy of the order shall be made available to the concerned District Collector on the date so fixed. For future guidance where parties have not approached this Court we issue the following direction: The expression “reasonable delay” used in Section 58 of Chapter VI of the Act in our considered view necessarily has to be within a reasonable time and with dispatch which period in our considered view three months time is sufficient enough for any authority to adjudicate any issue more so when we are dealing with confiscatory proceedings.” These directions were reiterated in CWJC No.171619 titled as Umesh Sah Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. by this Court vide order dated 14.01.2020. Since the respondents had failed to comply with the several orders passed by this court in CWJC No.20520 titled as Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah versus the State of Bihar & Ors. vide order dated 29.01.2020 by recording the entire history directed the State to file an affidavit as to why proceedings for contempt be not initiated. Such order dated 29.01.2020 in toto reads as under: “It is seen that despite our order dated 9thof January 2020 passed in C.W.J.C. No. 20598 of 2019 Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 titled as Md. Shaukat Ali Vs. The State of Bihar& Ors. and the order dated 14thof January 2020 passed in C.W.J.C. No. 171619 titled as Umesh Sah Vs. The State of Bihar& Ors. the State has not initiated proceedings under the provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016. It is a matter of record that this legislation has generated huge litigation. The docket of the Court be it the trial court or the High Court is now choked solely on account of such legislation. In the High Court itself on an average 400 bail applications are being filed every day some of which are pertaining to the said Statute. Position in the lower courts is worse. Before the trial courts i.e. the Sessions Courts more than 1 75 000 challans stand filed in relation to the said Statute. Before this Court on an average more than 5000 writ petitions are being filed annually for release of vehicles properties seized under the said Act. It has been the continued practice of this Court since the year 2017 that in the writ petitions the vehicles unless the situation so warrants are normally being released subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. This perhaps is done only to protect the property from being destroyed for there is no mechanism under the Statute or with the administration for protecting the property seized in relation to the crime registered under the said Statute. Property is left to the vagaries of weather resulting into national loss. This we say for the reason that proceedings for confiscation as envisaged under Section 58 were never initiated by the authority which under the Act is the District Magistrate Collector. It is only as a result of inaction on the part of such authorities that the owners of the vehicles properties are constrained to approach this Court for its release. When the matter in C.W.J.C. No. 205919and in 17165 of 2019(Umesh Sah Vs. The State of Bihar& Ors.)of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 It is continued practice of this Court that in cases of drunken driving no recovery from the vehicle recovery of less than commercial quantity where ex facie vehicle is not liable to be confiscated where there is inordinate delay in initiating proceedings for confiscation of the vehicle etc. this Court has been directing the State to provisionally release vehicle property subject to initiation conclusion finalisation of the confiscatory proceedings as the case may be. Reference can be made to the judgments orders passed by different co ordinate Benches of this Court viz: i) Judgement dated 22.03.2018 passed in CWJC No.50418 titled as Diwakar Kumar Singh versus The State of Bihar & Ors. ii) order dated 31.07.2018 passed in CWJC No.13162 of 2018 titled as Rajesh Kumar Pandit @ Rajesh Pandit Vs. The State of Bihar iii) order dated 31.07.2018 passed in CWJC No.142418 titled as Amar Kumar Vs The State of Bihar & Ors. iv) order dated 12.02.2018 passed in CWJC No.24318 titled as Mahendra Manjhi Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors. v) judgement dated 12.02.2018 passed in CWJC No.24718 titled as Laxman Das Lakshman Ravidas Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors. vi) order dated 11.09.2017 passed in CWJC No.13158 of 2017 titled as Sanjay Kumar Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. vii) order dated 27.03.2018 passed in CWJC No.55218 titled as Bikash Kumar Vs The State of Bihar & Ors. viii) order dated 27.03.2018 passed in CWJC No.5528 of 2018 titled as Bikash Kumar Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. ix) order dated 01.05.2018 passed in CWJC No.7755 of 2018 titled as Anandi Prasad Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. x) order dated 01.05.2018 passed in Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 CWJC No.76418 titled as Suraj Ram Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. xi) order dated 07.08.2018 passed in CWJC No.154318 titled as Kalesar Chaudhari Versus the State of Bihar & Ors. xii) judgement dated 18.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.12119 titled as Raushan Kumar @ Raushan Kumar Singh Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. xiii) judgement dated 29.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.16219 titled as Asharfi Kumar @ Rakesh Kumar Versus the State of Bihar Ors. xiv) judgement dated 08.02.2019 passed in CWJC No.23819 titled as Avinash Kumar Versus the State of Bihar & Ors. xv) judgement dated 29.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.16419 titled as Roshan Kumar Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. and xvi) judgement dated 22.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.1314 of 2019 titled as Shanti Devi Versus The State of Bihar & Ors In fact in CWJC No. 5049 of 2018 titled as Diwakar Kumar Singh Versus the State of Bihar & Ors the Court issued the following directions: “That apart in the confiscation proceedings the confiscating authority shall take note of the provisions of Section 56 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 and record a positive finding after hearing the petitioner as to whether when the petitioner is found or the vehicle is found to be used by a person in drunken condition and no liquor is seized from the vehicle or when the vehicle is not used for transportation of liquor whether the provision of Section 56 of the Act will apply. It shall be mandatory for the confiscating authority to decide this issue before passing any order on the confiscation proceedings. The confiscating authority shall consider the provision of Section 56 of the Act apply his mind and pass a speaking order with regard to confiscation initiated Without deciding the aforesaid issue as a preliminary issue further proceedings in the confiscation proceedings shall be prohibited. We further request the office of the Advocate General to communicate this order to all the District Magistrates in the State of Bihar who would be Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 mandated to pass an appropriate order in such cases where the vehicle has been confiscated under Section 56 of the Act only on the allegation that the vehicle was being driven in a drunken condition and no liquor was seized from the vehicle nor the vehicle used for transportation or carriage of liquor. The issue shall be decided by each and every District Magistrate before proceeding in the confiscation proceedings where the allegation is about the vehicle being driven in a drunken condition and no liquor was found from the possession of the vehicle. It shall be the duty of the Advocate General to communicate this order to each and every District Magistrate and inform the Registrar General of this Court. In spite thereof if we find that the District Magistrates are passing confiscation order without addressing this issue first we may consider initiating contempt proceedings against the concerned District It is further seen that in CWJC No.150019 titled as Shobha Devi Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. the Court observed as under: “6. On examination of aforesaid fact particularly allegation of the petitioner that in a court proceeding before the learned Special Judge Excise a false information was given we are of the opinion that the court of learned Special Judge Excise would be competent court to pass an appropriate order in view of provisions contained in Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 7. Accordingly the petitioner is granted liberty to file appropriate petition before the learned Special Judge Excise for prosecuting the concerned 8. So far as claim of compensation is concerned obviously on going through the material on record since there was no recovery of liquor from the vehicle and it was a case in which the occupants of the vehicle were alleged to be in drunken condition and were creating nuisance though were liable to be arrested. In any event the vehicle was not required to be seized since it was not liable to be confiscated 9. In such situation we are of the opinion that it is a fit case in which we may direct to pay adequate compensation to the petitioner being owner of the vehicle to the tune of Rs.75 000 however Sri Kumar Manish learned Standing Counsel 5 requests for granting an opportunity for obtaining detailed instruction and filing counter affidavit in the matter. The request of Sri Kumar Manish S.C. 5 is allowed for filing counter affidavit so that final order may be passed 10. It goes without saying that before filing counter affidavit the respondent no. 4 Superintendent of Police Darbhanga may conduct a preliminary inquiry regarding the conduct of the police officer who had seized the vehicle of the petitioner and state all those facts in its counter affidavit which must be filed by 29th of November 2019. The affidavit must be sworn by the Superintendent of Police himself 11. It further goes without saying that if after considering all the facts including counter affidavit which is proposed to be filed the Court comes to the conclusion that the petitioner is entitled for claim of amount of compensation which has been referred hereinabove the said compensation amount must be recovered from the pocket of the police officer who was responsible for such illegal seizure.” Despite the same only before this Court when matters of similar nature came up for hearing on 16thof December 2019 the learned Advocate General assisted by Shri Vikash Kumar learned Standing Counsel 11 and Shri Vivek Prasad learned Government Pleader 7 vehemently opposed the petitions for release of the vehicles. Consequently the writ petitions were disposed of with the directions to the appropriate authorities to positively initiate conclude confiscatory proceedings within a period of 30 45 days Without adjudicating the petitioner’s petition on merits we are of the considered view that interest of justice would be best met if the petition is disposed of in the following terms: a) Since the vehicle in question stands seized in relation to the FIR which stood registered long ago in case confiscation proceeding has not been initiated it must be initiated within a period of 15 days from today and that confiscation proceeding stands initiated we direct the appropriate authority under the Act to forthwith ensure that such proceedings be concluded not later than 30 days. b) The petitioner undertakes to make himself available in the office of the concerned Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 appropriate authority empowered under Section 58 of the Act i.e. District Collector in his her office on 24.01.2020 at 10:30 A.M c) We further direct the appropriate authority to positively conclude the confiscation proceeding within next thirty days on appearance of the petitioner. If for whatever reason such proceeding cannot be concluded in that event it shall be open for the authority to take such measures as are permissible in law for release of the vehicle in question by way of interim measure on such terms as may be deemed appropriate considering the attending facts and circumstances of the case d) If eventually the appropriate authority arrives at a conclusion that the property is not liable to be confiscated it shall be open for the petitioner to seek damages in accordance with law and have appropriate the erring initiated against Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the certified copy of the order shall be made available to the concerned District Collector on the date so fixed. For future guidance where parties have not approached this Court we issue the following direction: The expression “reasonable delay” used in Section 58 of Chapter VI of the Act in our considered view necessarily has to be within a reasonable time and with dispatch which period in our considered view three months time is sufficient enough for any authority to adjudicate any issue more so when we are dealing with confiscatory proceedings. We clarify that we have not adjudicated the writ petition on merits and it shall be open for the parties to take all stand in the adjudicatory proceedings and wherever parties are aggrieved it shall be open to them to initiate appropriate proceeding before the appellate Learned counsel for the State also undertakes to communicate the order to the concerned appropriate authority i.e. District Magistrate empowered under Section 58 of the Act.” C.W.J.C. No 171619 order dated 14.1.2020 bearing Registration No. BR 06G 4211 which has been seized in connection with Taukauliya P.S.Case No. 7018 for the offences punishable under Sections 272 273 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 30(a) 38(1) 41(1)of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016. It is continued practice of this Court that in cases of drunken driving no recovery from the vehicle recovery of less than commercial quantity where ex facie vehicle is not liable to be confiscated where there is inordinate delay in initiating proceedings for confiscation of the vehicle etc. this Court has been directing the State to provisionally release vehicle property subject to initiation conclusion finalisation of the confiscatory proceedings as the case may be. Reference can be made to the judgments orders passed by different co ordinate Benches of this Court viz: i) Judgement dated 22.03.2018 passed in CWJC No.50418 titled as Diwakar Kumar Singh versus The State of Bihar & Ors. ii) order dated 31.07.2018 passed in CWJC No.13162 of 2018 titled as Rajesh Kumar Pandit @ Rajesh Pandit Vs. The State of Bihar iii) order dated 31.07.2018 passed in CWJC No.142418 titled as Amar Kumar Vs The State of Bihar & Ors. iv) order dated 12.02.2018 passed in CWJC No.24318 titled as Mahendra Manjhi Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors. v) judgement dated 12.02.2018 passed in CWJC No.24718 titled as Laxman Das Lakshman Ravidas Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors. vi) order dated 11.09.2017 passed in CWJC No.13158 of 2017 titled as Sanjay Kumar Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. vii) order dated 27.03.2018 passed in CWJC No.55218 titled as Bikash Kumar Vs The State of Bihar & Ors. Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 viii) order dated 27.03.2018 passed in CWJC No.5528 of 2018 titled as Bikash Kumar Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. ix) order dated 01.05.2018 passed in CWJC No.7755 of 2018 titled as Anandi Prasad Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. x) order dated 01.05.2018 passed in CWJC No.76418 titled as Suraj Ram Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. xi) order dated 07.08.2018 passed in CWJC No.154318 titled as Kalesar Chaudhari Versus the State of Bihar & Ors. xii) judgement dated 18.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.12119 titled as Raushan Kumar @ Raushan Kumar Singh Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. xiii) judgement dated 29.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.16219 titled as Asharfi Kumar @ Rakesh Kumar Versus the State of Bihar xiv) judgement dated 08.02.2019 passed in CWJC No.23819 titled as Avinash Kumar Versus the State of Bihar & Ors. xv) judgement dated 29.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.16419 titled as Roshan Kumar Versus The State of Bihar & Ors. and xvi) judgement dated 22.01.2019 passed in CWJC No.1314 of 2019 titled as Shanti Devi Versus The State of Bihar & Ors In fact in CWJC No. 5049 of 2018 titled as Diwakar Kumar Singh Versus the State of Bihar & Ors the Court issued the following directions: “That apart in the confiscation proceedings the confiscating authority shall take note of the provisions of Section 56 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 and record a positive finding after hearing the petitioner as to whether when the petitioner is found or the vehicle is found to be used by a person in drunken condition and no liquor is seized from the vehicle or when the vehicle is not used for transportation of liquor whether the provision of Section 56 of the Act will apply. It shall be mandatory for the confiscating authority to decide this issue before passing any order on the confiscation proceedings. The confiscating authority shall consider the provision of Section 56 of the Act apply his mind and pass a Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 speaking order with regard to confiscation initiated Without deciding the aforesaid issue as a preliminary issue further proceedings in the confiscation proceedings shall be prohibited. We further request the office of the Advocate General to communicate this order to all the District Magistrates in the State of Bihar who would be mandated to pass an appropriate order in such cases where the vehicle has been confiscated under Section 56 of the Act only on the allegation that the vehicle was being driven in a drunken condition and no liquor was seized from the vehicle nor the vehicle used for transportation or carriage of liquor. The issue shall be decided by each and every District Magistrate before proceeding in the confiscation proceedings where the allegation is about the vehicle being driven in a drunken condition and no liquor was found from the possession of the vehicle. It shall be the duty of the Advocate General to communicate this order to each and every District Magistrate and inform the Registrar General of this Court. In spite thereof if we find that the District Magistrates are passing confiscation order without addressing this issue first we may consider initiating contempt proceedings against the concerned District It is further seen that in CWJC No.150019 titled as Shobha Devi Versus The State of Bihar & Ors.the Court observed as under: “6. On examination of aforesaid fact particularly allegation of the petitioner that in a court proceeding before the learned Special Judge Excise a false information was given we are of the opinion that the court of learned Special Judge Excise would be competent court to pass an appropriate order in view of provisions contained in Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 7. Accordingly the petitioner is granted liberty to file appropriate petition before the learned Special Judge Excise for prosecuting the concerned 8. So far as claim of compensation is concerned obviously on going through the material on record since there was no recovery of liquor from the vehicle and it was a case in which the occupants of the vehicle were alleged to be in drunken condition and Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 were creating nuisance though were liable to be arrested. In any event the vehicle was not required to be seized since it was not liable to be confiscated 9. In such situation we are of the opinion that it is a fit case in which we may direct to pay adequate compensation to the petitioner being owner of the vehicle to the tune of Rs.75 000 however Sri Kumar Manish learned Standing Counsel 5 requests for granting an opportunity for obtaining detailed instruction and filing counter affidavit in the matter. The request of Sri Kumar Manish S.C. 5 is allowed for filing counter affidavit so that final order may be passed 10. It goes without saying that before filing counter affidavit the respondent no. 4 Superintendent of Police Darbhanga may conduct a preliminary inquiry regarding the conduct of the police officer who had seized the vehicle of the petitioner and state all those facts in its counter affidavit which must be filed by 29th of November 2019. The affidavit must be sworn by the Superintendent of Police himself 11. It further goes without saying that if after considering all the facts including counter affidavit which is proposed to be filed the Court comes to the conclusion that the petitioner is entitled for claim of amount of compensation which has been referred hereinabove the said compensation amount must be recovered from the pocket of the police officer who was responsible for such illegal seizure.” and Shri Vivek Prasad Despite the same only before this Court when matters of similar nature came up for hearing on 16thof December 2019 the learned Advocate General assisted by Shri Vikash Kumar learned Standing Counsel 11 learned Government Pleader 7 vehemently opposed the petitions for release of the vehicles. Consequently the writ petitions were disposed of with the directions to the appropriate authorities to positively initiate conclude confiscatory proceedings within a period of 30 45 days Without adjudicating the petitioner’s petition on merits we are of the considered view that interest of justice would be best met if the petition is disposed of in the following terms: a) Since the vehicle in question stands seized in relation to the FIR which stood registered Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 long ago in case confiscation proceeding has not been initiated it must be initiated within a period of 15 days from today and that confiscation proceeding stands initiated we direct the appropriate authority under the Act to forthwith ensure that such proceedings be concluded not later than 30 days. b) The petitioner undertakes to make himself available in the office of the concerned appropriate authority empowered under Section 58 of the Act i.e. District Collector in his her office on 04.02.2020 at 10:30 A.M c) We further direct the appropriate authority to positively conclude the confiscation proceeding within next thirty days on appearance of the petitioner. If for whatever reason such proceeding cannot be concluded in that event it shall be open for the authority to take such measures as are permissible in law for release of the vehicle in question by way of interim measure on such terms as may be deemed appropriate considering the attending facts and circumstances of the case d) If eventually the appropriate authority arrives at a conclusion that the property is not liable to be confiscated it shall be open for the petitioner to seek damages in accordance with law and have appropriate the erring initiated against Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the certified copy of the order shall be made available to the concerned District Collector on the date so fixed. For future guidance where parties have not approached this Court we issue the following direction: The expression “reasonable delay” used in Section 58 of Chapter VI of the Act in our considered view necessarily has to be within a reasonable time and with dispatch which period in our considered view three months time is sufficient enough for any authority to adjudicate any issue more so when we are dealing with confiscatory proceedings. We clarify that we have not adjudicated the writ petition on merits and it shall be open for the parties to take all stand in the adjudicatory proceedings and wherever parties are aggrieved it shall be open to them to initiate appropriate proceeding before the appellate Learned counsel for the State also undertakes Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 to communicate the order to the concerned appropriate authority i.e. District Magistrate empowered under Section 58 of the Act.” In Umesh Sahthis Court had clarified that the expression “reasonable delay” under Section 58 of Chapter 6 of the Act has to be construed to be ‘not more than three months’. It is seen that despite our observations the appropriate authorities have not taken any action in initiating the proceedings for confiscation of the property under the Act. The litigants are thus forced to approach this Court by way of filing separate petitions Thus today we are left with two options either to initiate proceedings for contempt under the provisions of Contempt of Courts Act or under Article 215 of the Constitution of India or ask the Chief Secretary Government of Bihar to evolve a mechanism self serving in nature so as to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented in letter and spirit expeditiously without any delay and with reasonable dispatch Why is it that the owners of the property are forced to approach this Court for release of the vehicles or property Is it that there is no mechanism under the Act for initiating confiscatory proceedings at the earliest Is it that there is insufficient infrastructure with the State Government for ensuring implementation of the provisions of the Act Illustratively in the weekly list dated 27.1.2020 we notice that more than 75 cases stand filed and listed despite our order dated 9thof January 2020. In the instant case seizure is of the year 2019 and no proceedings of confiscation have commenced We are of the considered view that non implementation of the Act is generally having a very serious adverse consequence on the dispensation of administration of justice. And peculiarly it is only when the matter was taken up by the Bench hearing the petition bearing C.W.J.C. No. 252619on 17.12.2019that the State vehemently opposed release of the vehicle contrary to the practice adopted hitherto before. Be that as it may at this point in time we refrain from passing any order under the contempt jurisdiction but direct the Chief Secretary Government of Bihar to file his personal affidavit dealing with each one of the issues highlighted as also elaborately Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 indicating the mechanism which the State has or desires to evolve so as to prevent the litigants from directly approaching the Court for release of the vehicle and also ensuring early completion of the proceedings be it confiscatory in nature or in an appellate jurisdiction under the provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act Let an affidavit in that regard be positively filed within one week. List this case on 6.2.2020.” Further this very Bench in CWJC No.61420 titled as Vishal Kumar Versus the State of Bihar & Anr on 04.06.2020 issued the following directions: “In the aforesaid decisions we have already laid down the time schedule within which all proceedings are necessarily required to be concluded and the outer limit is three months from the date on which this Court has directed the party to make himself available before the appropriate We clarify that petitioner undertakes to fully cooperate in the proceedings and we further clarify that in case the authorities are not able to conclude the proceedings within the time bound period the vehicle property shall be allowed to be released on such conditions as the appropriate authority may deem fit and proper. As such petition is disposed of making the directions contained in the orders referred to supra applicable mutatis mutandis insofar as applicable and possible to the petitioner’s case.” Learned counsel states that petition be disposed of in terms of the various orders passed by this Court more so the orders referred to supra. It is seen that till date in large number of cases Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 position about conclusion of the proceedings be it under Section 58 92 or 93 remains the same. We further direct that all proceedings under Section 58 must positively be initiated concluded within a period of ninety days from the date of appearance of the parties Further Appeal Revision if any be also decided within a period of thirty days from the date of initiation failing which the “things”shall be deemed to have been released in terms of several orders passed by this Court reference whereof stands mentioned in Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Wherever confiscatory proceedings stand concluded and parties could not file the appeal revision within the statutory period of limitation as already stands directed in several matters if they were to initiate such proceedings within next thirty days the plea of limitation would not come in their way of adjudication of such proceedings on merit. Petitioner through learned counsel undertakes to make himself herself available on 03.03.2021 at 10:30 A.M before the appropriate authority which may be in the attending facts the Collector of the Gopalganj District Appellate or the Revisional Authority. If the Collector is not himself dealing with Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 the matter on account of delegation of power or assignment of work to another officer of his District he shall fix a date directing the parties to appear before the said officer which date shall be not exceeding one week. Also he shall inform the said authority of fixing of such date. We clarify that convenience of parties specially during the time of Pandemic Covid 19 is of prime importance and it shall be open for the authority to hear the parties with the use of technology i.e. Video Conferencing facility etc. Learned counsel for the State undertakes to communicate the order to all concerned including the District Magistrate and no certified copy of the order shall be required to be placed on the file of proceedings pending or initiated under the Act for such order is available on the official website of the High Court & can be downloaded and or verified from there in the times of current Pandemic Covid 19. We only hope and expect that the Authorities under the Act shall take appropriate action at the earliest and in accordance with law within the time schedule fixed failing which the vehicle property things liable for confiscation shall be deemed to have been released without any further reference to this Court. Patna High Court CWJC No.20121 dt.10 02 2021 Liberty reserved to the petitioner to take recourse to such remedies as are otherwise available in accordance with law if the need so arises subsequently. Petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid Sanjay Karol CJ) ( S. Kumar J

Summary: When a vehicle has been confiscated for carrying liquor or intoxicating substance unlawfully, it can be released by a court order only after the proceedings have been initiated by the concerned authorities under the State Excise Act. This was decided in the case of Jayendra Mohan v. State of Bihar and Ors [Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2016 of 2021] by the double bench consisting of Hon’ble Judges-  Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar in the High Court of Patna. The petitioner in this case sought the relief for For issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ/ directions commanding the respondents to releases the Swift Dzire Maruti Car. in favour of the petitioner which has been seized in connection with Gopalganj Excise Case No.199/2020 registered for the offence punishable under Section 30(a) of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. TI must be noted that under section 58 power to issue an order of confiscation vests with the District Collector/Authorized officer, who upon receipt of the report of the seizing officer detaining such property is required to pass an order. The counsel states that petition be disposed of in terms of the various orders passed by this Court and the counsel for the respondents has no objection to the same. The court listed the issues as being: (a) where despite seizure, no proceedings for confiscation under Section 58 were initiated; (ii) where such proceedings were initiated but not concluded within a reasonable time; (c) the parties after obtaining interim relief for release of “things” under orders passed in different set of writ petitions, did not participate in the confiscatory proceedings; (d) where the order of confiscation was neither communicated nor the parties made aware of such fact, thus precluding them from filing appeal under Section 92 and Revision under Section 93 of the Act; (e) proceedings initiated under Section 92/93 were not concluded within a reasonable time either on account of inaction on the part of the authority(s) or on account of non-cooperation of the private parties. It relied upon the case of Manish Kumar Chaudhary versus the State of Bihar &amp; Ors. [CWJC No.3245 of 2017] where it was held “Wherever proceedings for confiscation have not started, the Appropriate Authority constituted under the Act, shall positively initiate the same within a period of four weeks from today. In any event, petitioner undertakes to appear in the office of the concerned appropriate authority/the concerned District Magistrate. . The said Officer shall forthwith, and not later than four weeks from today, initiate the proceedings and after compliance of principles of natural justice, take a decision thereupon within a period of two months.” It observed that confiscatory proceedings stand concluded and parties could not file the appeal/revision within the statutory period of limitation, if they were to initiate such proceedings within next thirty days, the plea of limitation would not come in their way of adjudication of such proceedings on merit.