Patna High Court
Ranjan Engicon Private LimitedversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The court disposed of the writ petition pending the petitioner's representation, without deciding the substantive merits of the challenges.
Summary
Ranjan Engicon Private Limited, through its proprietor, filed a writ petition challenging the Collector of Patna's order dated 08.01.2026 which rejected its application for surrender of a mining settlement (Patna Sone Sand Ghat No. 02) and forfeited a security deposit of Rs. 5.72 crore on alleged erroneous grounds. The petitioner sought certiorari to quash the Collector's order, mandamus directing acceptance of the surrender, refund of the deposit, and a restraining order against royalty demand for the second year. The petitioner was advised to file a representation with the Mines Commissioner within four weeks, accompanied by necessary documents. The court directed that any delay in filing the representation be condoned, noting that the writ petition was pending adjudication. The court indicated that a reasoned order would be passed after the representation is filed. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed of pending the petitioner’s further filing.
Issues considered
- Whether the Collector's order rejecting the surrender of the mining settlement and forfeiting the security deposit is legally valid.
- Whether the Mines Commissioner has jurisdiction to entertain the petitioner's representation.
- Whether a writ of mandamus can be issued directing acceptance of the settlement surrender and refund of the security deposit.
- Whether the respondents can be restrained from demanding royalty for the second year pending resolution of the petition.
Subjects
- certiorari
- mandamus
- mining settlement
- security deposit
- royalty
- Mines Commissioner
- Collector
- writ jurisdiction
- representation
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2793 of 2026
======================================================
Ranjan Engicon Private Limited through its Proprietor Sanjay Kumar, Male-
aged about 52 years, Son of Kishun Chandra Singh, R/o Mahatama Gandhi
Nagar, Kanti Factory Road, Kankarbagh, P.S. Kankarbagh, District- Patna-
800020.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary-cum-Mines
Commissioner, Department of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Vikas
Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
2. The Principal Secretary-cum-Mines Commissioner, Department of Mines
and Geology, Govt. of Bihar, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
3. The Director, Mines and Geology Department, Government of Bihar, Vikas
Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
4. The District Magistrate cum Collector, Patna.
5. The District Mining Officer, Patna.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Rajnikant, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Pleader (05)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
2 23-04-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The present petition has been preferred for the
following relief(s):
“I. To issue an appropriate writ, order or
direction in the nature of "Certiorari" for quashing
letter no. 105 dated 08.01.2026 issued by the
Respondent Collector, Patna whereby and
whereunder petitioner's application seeking
surrender of settlement of Patna Sone Sand Ghat No.
02 has been rejected and the security deposit of Rs.
Patna High Court CWJC No.2793 of 2026(2) dt.23-04-2026
2/3
5,72,94,675 (Five Crore Seventy Two Lakhs Ninety
Four thousand six hundred seventy five only)
furnished by the petitioner for settlement of Patna
Sone Sand Ghat No. 02 has been forfeited on
completely erroneous grounds.
II. To issue further appropriate writ order
or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding
the Respondents to accept the surrender of the
settlement of Patna Sone Sand Ghat No. 02 by the
petitioner.
III. To issue further appropriate writ order
or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding
the Respondents to forthwith refund the security
deposit of Rs. 5,72,94,675 (Five Crore Seventy Two
Lakhs Ninety Four thousand six hundred seventy five
only) deposited by the petitioner for obtaining the
settlement of Patna Sone Sand Ghat No. 02.
IV. During pendency of writ petition the
respondents should be restrained from demanding
and recovering the royalty pertaining to second year
for the settlement of Patna Sone Sand Ghat No. 02
from the petitioner.
V. To grant any other relief or reliefs
Patna High Court CWJC No.2793 of 2026(2) dt.23-04-2026
3/3
which the petitioner may be found entitled to in the
facts and circumstances of the instant case.”
3. At the outset, learned counsel for the petitioner
submits that an order has been passed by the Collector, Patna vide
memo no. 105 dated 08.01.2026 (Annexure P/6 to the petition) and
the remedy lies before the Mines Commissioner, Department of
Mines and Geology, Bihar, Patna.
4. At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner
submits that he shall be preferring a representation in next four
weeks alongwith all the necessary documents.
5. If such petition is filed in next four weeks, the
respondent shall see to it that any delay in filing the petition be
condoned inasmuch as the writ petition was pending adjudication
by this Court.
6. It is expected that a reasoned order will be passed at
an earliest.
7. The writ petition stands disposed of with the
aforesaid observation.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Adnan/-
U
Checking your session…