Patna High Court

Shambhu Nath SinghversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 10 April 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED
Bench: SOURENDRA PANDEY

Holding

The Court held that the petitioner must approach the Land Acquisition Officer to obtain the payment, and the petition is disposed.

Summary

The petitioner, Shambhu Nath Singh, filed a civil writ petition against the State of Bihar and several officials seeking payment of an amount awarded under the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Act. The respondents’ counter‑affidavit of 2023 stated that the award amount had been calculated and sent to the Home Department for sanction. The petitioner argued that the payment should be made directly by the Land Acquisition Officer, Saran. The Court, after hearing both sides, directed the petitioner to approach the Land Acquisition Officer within two weeks and ordered that the officer make the payment within four weeks of such representation. The Court further clarified that any further grievance regarding the amount or inaction could be raised anew before the appropriate authority. Consequently, the petition was disposed.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner is entitled to immediate payment of the award amount under the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Act as acknowledged in the respondents’ counter‑affidavit
Whether the Court can direct the Land Acquisition Officer to make the payment and the procedural steps for the petitioner

Subjects

land acquisition
resettlement
rehabilitation
civil writ petition
Bihar
government payment
court direction

Judgment

         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                     Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6008 of 2022
     ======================================================
     Shambhu Nath Singh Son of Late Kedar Nath Singh, Resident of Village-
     Maujampur, P.S.-Awatar Nagar, Anchal- Garkha, District-Saran at Chapra at
     Present Resident of Mohalla-Naya Tola, Mirchai Bari, P.S.-Sahayak Katihar,
     District-Katihar.

                                                                   ... ... Petitioner/s
                                     Versus
1.   The State of Bihar through the Principal Secrerary, Revenue and Land
     Reforms Department, Old Secretariat Building, Bihar, Patna.
2.   The Director, Land Acquisition Department, Old Secretariat Building, Bihar,
     Patna.
3.   The District Magistrate, Saran at Chapra.
4.   The Land Acquisition Officer, Saran at Chapra
5.   The Treasury Officer, Saran at Chapra,
6.   The Superintendent of Police, Saran at Chapra

                                               ... ... Respondent/s
     ======================================================
     Appearance :
     For the Petitioner/s   :        Mr. Sunil Kumar Karn, Advocate
     For the Respondent/s   :        Mr. AC to AAG -12
     ======================================================
     CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOURENDRA PANDEY
     ORAL JUDGMENT
      Date : 10-04-2026
                 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned AC to

     AAG -12.

                 2. The learned AC to AAG -12, at the outset, submits that a

     counter affidavit filed in the year 2023, categorically states that a calculation

     of the amount as per the award declared by the Chairman-cum-Presiding

     Officer of the Tribunal under the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and

     Rehabilitation Act has been sent to the requistioning department i.e. the Home

     Department to sanction the difference amount.

                 3. It has been submitted that the petitioner may be asked to

     represent before appropriate authority i.e. Land Acquisition Officer, Saran at

     Chapra respondent no. 4 to receive the amount.
             Patna High Court CWJC No.6008 of 2022 dt.10-04-2026
                                                        2/2




                                 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that his grievances

                    would be redressed, if the Land Acquisition Officer, Saran at Chapra be

                    directed to pay the amount, as admitted by the State in their counter affidavit

                    filed in the year 2023.

                                 5. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and taking

                    into account the specific averment made in the counter affidavit with regard to

                    the requisitioning made for sanctioning the amount paid to the petitioner in

                    the year 2023, the petitioner is directed to approach respondent no. 4 i.e. the

                    Land Acquisition Officer, Saran at Chapra within a period of two weeks from

                    today. The Land Acquisition Officer, Saran at Chapra shall make the

                    payments to the petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date of such

                    representation filed on behalf of the petitioner along with the copy of the

                    present order.

                                 6. It is made clear that if the petitioner is left with any grievance

                    with regard to the inaction or quantum of the amount arrived at, he shall be at

                    liberty to move afresh before the appropriate authority/forum/Court.

                                 7. The petition stands disposed of accordingly.




                                               (Sourendra Pandey, J)
krishna/-
AFR/NAFR                NAFR
CAV DATE                NA
Uploading Date          10.04.2026
Transmission Date       NA

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