Patna High Court
Navin Kumar @ Naveen KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The Court held that the petitioner must seek compensation by approaching the District Land Acquisition Officer, and did not grant any compensation itself.
Summary
Navin Kumar filed a writ petition seeking compensation for several parcels of land (Khata No.1446, 1448 etc.) that were acquired by the State of Bihar for the construction of a Make‑up Water Corridor under Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (KBUNL), a subsidiary of NTPC. The petitioner alleged that despite the acquisition, no compensation had been paid. The State counsel argued that the grievance should be addressed to the District Land Acquisition Officer (DLAO). After hearing both sides, the High Court directed the petitioner to approach the DLAO within four weeks and sought a reasoned order on compensation by 30‑June‑2026. No compensation was ordered by the Court itself. The petition was therefore disposed without a substantive award, pending the DLAO’s decision.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to compensation for land acquired for the Make‑up Water Corridor under KBUNL.
- Whether the High Court is the appropriate forum for granting such compensation or the petitioner must approach the District Land Acquisition Officer.
Subjects
- land acquisition
- compensation
- water corridor
- Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Ltd
- NTPC
- District Land Acquisition Officer
- high court writ petition
- Muzaffarpur
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.20966 of 2025
======================================================
Navin Kumar @ Naveen Kumar Son of Late Baidyanath Pd. Singh, Resident
of village and P.O.- Jamin Mathia, P.S.- Minapur, Sub-division and Munsifi-
Muzaffarpur East, District- Muzaffarpur.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur.
2. The District Land Acquisition Officer, District- Muzaffarpur.
3. The Chief Executive Officer, Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited
(KBUNL), NTPC, Kanti Muzaffarpur.
4. The Additional General Manager (AGM), N.T.P.C., Muzaffarpur.
5. The Circle Officer, Kanti, Muzaffarpur.
6. Sachinta Devi, Wife of Late Ranjeet Chaudhary, Resident of village-
Dhamauli Ramnath, P.O.- Kalwari, P.S. and Anchali- Kanti, District-
Muzaffarpur.
7. Nevi Devi, Wife of Jai Bhuwan Singh, Resident of village and P.O.-
Gokhula Rupauli, P.S. and Anchal- Paroo, District- Muzaffarpur.
8. Kunal Kumar, Son of Jai Bhuwan Singh, Resident of village and P.O.-
Gokhula Rupauli, P.S. and Anchal- Paroo, District- Muzaffarpur.
9. Nawal Kishore Sharma, Son of late Yamuna Sharma, Resident of village
Kalwari, P.S.- Kanti, District-Muzaffarpur.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Rajeev Ranjan, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Pleader (19)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
2 12-01-2026 Heard Mrs. Bela Singh, learned counsel for the
petitioner and Mrs. Dr. Shobha Chaubey representing the State.
2. The present petition has been preferred for the
following relief(s):
“(i) For directing and commanding the
respondent to pay proper compensation to the
Patna High Court CWJC No.20966 of 2025(2) dt.12-01-2026
2/3
petitioner against his acquired land, i.e. khata
no.1446, Khesara no. 2096, area 0.011 decimal,
Khesara no. 8557 area 0.5 decimal, and Khata no.
1448 Khesara no. 2026 area 0.30 decimel,
Khesara no. 2027 area 10 decimal in Dhamauli
Ramnath, P.S.-Kanti, District-Muzaffarpur, taken
by respondent authorities for construction of
Make-up Water Corridor, under KBUNL, Kanti
Muzaffarpur.
(ii) And also for any other relief/ relieves
for which petitioners are found to be legally
entitled under the facts and circumstances of the
case.”
3. The matter relates to Khata no. 1448 (Khesra nos.
2026, 8557 and 2096) under Kanti Circle in the district of
Muzaffarpur and the claim of the petitioner is that though the
same was taken up to be used by the Kanti Electricity Nigam
Ltd. under NTPC, Muzaffarpur, payment has still eluded him.
4. Learned State counsel submits that the petitioner
should have approached the District Land Acquisition Officer,
Muzaffarpur for the redressal of the grievance.
5. Considering the submissions of the parties and the
Patna High Court CWJC No.20966 of 2025(2) dt.12-01-2026
3/3
prayer, it would be appropriate that the petitioner approaches the
District Land Acquisition Officer, Muzaffarpur in next four
weeks who shall be looking into the matter and passing a
reasoned order in accordance with law preferably by
30.06.2026.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Adnan/-
U
Checking your session…