Patna High Court
Dr. Rajiv Ranjan SinghversusThe T.M. Bhagalpur University
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- AJIT KUMAR
Holding
The Court directed the Director of the Higher Education Department to examine the Registrar’s decision and, upon verification, to pay all admitted dues to the petitioner within three weeks, thereby disposing of the petition.
Summary
Dr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh filed a writ petition seeking payment of his pre‑ and post‑retirement claims and compensation of Rs. 50 lakhs for alleged unnecessary litigation. The petitioner argued that the Registrar of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University had already taken a final decision on his claim and communicated it to the Director of the Higher Education Department, and therefore a mandamus directing payment was warranted. The State contended that the matter was already addressed by the Registrar and only required a timeline for payment. The Court examined the submissions and directed the Director of the Higher Education Department to review the Registrar’s letter and, upon verification, to pay all admitted dues within three weeks. Accordingly, the writ petition was disposed of with the direction to ensure payment of the petitioner’s dues. The order does not award the additional compensation claimed by the petitioner.
Issues considered
- Whether the Director of the Higher Education Department is obligated to enforce payment of the petitioner's pre‑ and post‑retirement dues as decided by the university Registrar.
- Whether a writ of mandamus can be issued to compel payment of the claimed dues and compensation for alleged unnecessary litigation.
Subjects
- post‑retirement dues
- mandamus
- higher education
- government employee
- writ petition
- payment of dues
- compensation for litigation
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.20389 of 2025
======================================================
Dr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh S/o Late Ramni Mohan Singh, R/o Near Durga Sthan,
Gumti No.2, Bhikhanpur, P.S- Ishakchak, Town and Dist.- Bhagalpur.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The T.M. Bhagalpur University Bhagalpur, through its Registrar.
2. The Vice-Chancellor, T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur.
3. The Registrar, T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur.
4. The Finance Officer, T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur.
5. The Principal, Sabour College, Sabour, Distt.- Bhagalpur.
6. The State of Bihar, through the Additional Chief Secretary, Education Deptt.,
Govt. of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna.
7. The Director, Higher Education Department, Govt. of Bihar, New
Secretariat, Vikas Bhawan, Patna.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Bishwash Vijeta, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Additional Advocate General (3)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
3 09-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
counsel for the State.
2. The writ petition has been filed for the following
reliefs :-
(i) Issuance of an order, direction or a writ
in the nature of mandamus commanding the
Respondents concerned to make the payment of
petitioner's following pre and post-retirement
claims (detailed in paragraph no. 50 of this writ
petition), without any further delay, that too, after
supplying the details of calculation thereof to the
petitioner in advance.
(ii) Issuance of an order, direction of a writ
Patna High Court CWJC No.20389 of 2025(3) dt.09-04-2026
2/3
in the nature of mandamus commanding the
Respondents concerned to make the payment of a
total sum of Rs. 50 Lakhs, as compensation to the
petitioner, for dragging him to series of
unnecessary litigations, which may be made
recoverable from the crring officials
(iii) For grant of any other relief(s) to which
the petitioner may be found entitled to in the facts
and circumstances of this case.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
pursuant to the order dated 06.01.2026, the Registrar, Tilka
Manjhi Bhagalpur University, has already taken a final decision
with regard to claim of this petitioner and the decision so taken
has already been communicated to the Director, Higher
Education Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna and therefore, the
petitioner submits that by issuing appropriate direction, this
matter may be disposed of for taking a final decision on the
request made by the Registrar, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur
University, for payment of the post retiral dues.
4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State
submits that since the issues have already been addressed by the
Registrar and necessary communication has been made to the
Director, Higher Education Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna,
this matter may be disposed of by issuing appropriate direction
to decide the claim of the petitioner and to ensure payment of
the same by fixing a time-line.
Patna High Court CWJC No.20389 of 2025(3) dt.09-04-2026
3/3
5. Considering the submission of the parties, this
Court directs the Director, Higher Education Department, Govt.
of Bihar, Patna, to examine the issues and the letter sent by the
Registrar, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, which is
appended with the writ petition as Annexure-P/36, at the earliest
preferably within a period of three weeks from today and on
verification, all admitted dues, payable to this petitioner, shall be
paid within the same time.
6. Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of.
(Ajit Kumar, J)
sharun/-
U
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