Patna High Court
Rajnish KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISMISSED
Holding
The petition is not maintainable as it raises disputed facts and constitutes a public interest litigation, and is therefore dismissed.
Summary
The petitioner, a farmer named Rajnish Kumar, filed a writ petition alleging massive fraud and misappropriation of funds under the Chief Minister Crop Assistance Scheme in Juafar Panchayat, East Champaran, and sought directions for an independent investigation, suspension of payments, and remedial guidelines. The court noted that the petitioner had already been compensated for his own crop loss and that other aggrieved persons had not approached the court, having alternative remedies. It observed that the allegations involved complex factual disputes requiring evidence collection and witness examination. The bench held that such matters are not suitable for adjudication through a writ petition and characterized the case as a public interest litigation lacking maintainability. Consequently, the petition was dismissed.
Issues considered
- Whether the writ petition is maintainable given that it raises disputed factual questions and is essentially a public interest litigation.
- Whether the court can direct an independent investigation or order suspension of payments under the Crop Assistance Scheme.
- Whether the petitioner has locus standi to seek relief on behalf of other affected persons.
Subjects
- public interest litigation
- writ petition
- corruption
- crop assistance scheme
- misappropriation of funds
- locus standi
- jurisdiction
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3226 of 2026
======================================================
Rajnish Kumar Son of Ashish Kumar, Resident of Village- Jainagar, P.O.-
Jaufar, P.S.- Chhauradano, District- East Champaran, Bihar- 845302.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. The Secretary, Co-operative Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
3. The Secretary, Agriculture Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
4. The District Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari.
5. The District Cooperative Officer, East Champaran.
6. The Block Development Officer, Chhuradano, East Champaran.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ravi Raj, Adv.
For the Respondent/s : Mr. P.K. Verma, AAG-3
Mr. Sanjay Kumar Ghosarvey, Adv.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
(Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)
2 02-04-2026 This instant writ petition has been filed by the
petitioner, Rajnish Kumar, seeking the following relief(s):
“i. To issue an appropriate writ,
order or direction directing the respondent
authorities to ensure protection of public funds
and to prevent large-scale corruption, fraud,
and misuse of government money under the
Chief Minister Crop Assistance Scheme in
Juafar Panchayat, Chhauradano Block, District
East Champaran, State of Bihar.
ii. Issue an appropriate writ/order
Patna High Court CWJC No.3226 of 2026(2) dt.02-04-2026
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directing an independent investigation by an
agency such as the Vigilance
Bureau/CBI/Special Investigation Team into the
scam under the Chief Minister Crop Assistance
Scheme for the year 2024-25 in Panchayat
Juafar, Block Chhauradano, District East
Champaran.
iii. To direct the respondents to
immediately stop further payment under the
said scheme for the year 2024-25 in the said
area till completion of investigation and also to
initiate the departmental and criminal
proceedings against erring officials, agents,
and beneficiaries and recovery of
misappropriated public money from the guilty
persons.
iv. To direct framing of guidelines to
prevent future misuse of the scheme.
v. Pass any other order(s) as this
Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the
interest of justice.”
2. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that large-
scale fraud has been committed under the Chief Minister Crop
Assistance Scheme in Panchayat Juafar, Block Chhauradano,
District East Champaran, during the period 2022–2023 to 2024–
2025. It is alleged that fake beneficiary details, forged land
records (Khesra), incorrect land area particulars, and fabricated
Patna High Court CWJC No.3226 of 2026(2) dt.02-04-2026
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signatures of public representatives were used to illegally obtain
government assistance. It is further alleged that public funds
have been misappropriated through a criminal nexus involving
CSC/CSP operators, middlemen/agents, local officials, and
district-level authorities, resulting in siphoning off nearly 75%
of the scheme amount.
3. Upon perusal of the averments made in the writ
petition, and on a specific query being put to the learned counsel
for the petitioner regarding the status of the petitioner, it has
been submitted that the petitioner himself is a farmer who had
suffered crop loss and has already been duly compensated.
4. Although certain individuals have been named in
the writ petition alleging that they suffered crop loss but were
not duly compensated, such persons have not approached this
Court. They have an efficacious alternative remedy to approach
the competent authority for redressal of their grievances.
5. This Court is of the considered view that the issues
raised in the present writ petition involve disputed questions of
fact, requiring detailed inquiry, collection of evidence, and
examination of witnesses to ascertain whether any
misappropriation of funds has, in fact, taken place.
6. In such circumstances, and particularly in view of
Patna High Court CWJC No.3226 of 2026(2) dt.02-04-2026
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the fact that the affected persons themselves have not
approached this Court, we are of the opinion that the present
Public Interest Litigation appears to be in the nature of a
publicity interest litigation.
7. Accordingly, we are not inclined to entertain the
present writ petition. The same is, therefore, dismissed.
(Sangam Kumar Sahoo, CJ)
( Harish Kumar, J)
rohit/-
U
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