Patna High Court
Narayan RamversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RANA VIKRAM SINGH
Holding
The Court ordered that the District Magistrate‑Collector supply the certified copies of the two ceiling case records to the petitioners within three months.
Summary
Five petitioners, who were previously allotted small parcels of land in 1992, became landless again after a 1996 order restored the original landholders and cancelled their allotments. They approached the Patna High Court seeking certified copies of two ceiling case records (Ceiling Case No. 75/1973-74 and Ceiling Case No. 66/1973-74) to pursue any legal remedy. The petitioners argued that the authorities had refused to provide these records. The Court, noting the modified prayer, directed the District Magistrate‑Collector of Madhubani to furnish the certified copies within three months upon payment of the requisite court fee. The writ application was thereafter disposed off.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioners are entitled to certified copies of the ceiling case records (Ceiling Case No. 75/1973-74 and Ceiling Case No. 66/1973-74) for the purpose of pursuing their legal remedy.
Subjects
- land allotment
- landless persons
- ceiling case
- certified copies
- writ jurisdiction
- land reforms
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8685 of 2026
======================================================
1. Narayan Ram, Son of Nandi Ram, Resident of Ward No. 1 Karahri,
Dhobiyahi, P.S. Sonbarsha, District- Madhubani.
2. Budhai Saday, Son of Palat Sadai, Resident of village- Karahri, P.S.-
Sonbarsha, District- Madhubani.
3. Lakshmi Saday, Son of Kuse Saday, Resident of village- Karahri, P.S.-
Sonbarsha, District- Madhubani.
4. Lal Bihari Ram, Son of Nandlal Ram, Resident of village- Dhobiyahi
Karahri, P.S.- Laukhi, District-Madhubani.
5. Bal Kumar Saday, Son of Chhatar Saday, Resident of village Karahri, P.S.
Sonbarsha, District-Madhubani.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and
Land Reforms Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
2. The Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Land Reforms Department,
Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
3. The District Magistrate, Madhubani.
4. The Sub Divisional Officer, Jhanjharpur, District- Madhubani.
5. The Circle Officer, Jhanjharpur, District- Madhubani.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Dr. Ranjeet Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Kanishk Kaustubh, Advocate
Mr. Rajnish Prakash, Advocate
Ms. Lakshmi Kumari, Advocate
Mr. Rohan Sinha, Advocate
Mr. Ankesh Kumar Sinha, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Rajan Prakash, A.C. to G.A.-2
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RANA VIKRAM SINGH
ORAL ORDER
2 29-06-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The petitioners, 5 in numbers, have approached this
Court for a direction to the respondents for allotting 4 decimals
Patna High Court CWJC No.8685 of 2026(2) dt.29-06-2026
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of land claiming themselves to be the landless persons. To
buttress the claim of the petitioners, learned counsel submits
that earlier vide letter dated 13.04.1992 issued under the hand of
Sub-Divisional Officer, Jhanjharpur, they were allotted the land
with the area of 10 decimal in favour of the petitioner no. 1,
namely Narayan Ram in Khata No. 64, Plot No. 392 situated at
village-Sanpatha, P.S.-Sonhar, Cricle-Jhanjharpur, District-
Madhubani; area of 7.1 decimal in favour of the petitioner no. 2,
namely Budhai Saday in Khata No. 116, Plot No. 567 and Khata
No. 38, Plot No. 1522 situated at village Sonbarsha; area of 8.2
decimal in favour of the petitioner no. 3, namely Lakshmi Saday
in Khata No. 55, Plot No. 417, village-Sonbarsha, P.S.-Laukhi,
Circle-Laukhi, District-Madhubani; area of 8 decimal in favour
of the petitioner no. 4, namely Lal Bihari Ram in Plot No. 2861,
village-Dhobihar, Circle-Lokhat, District-Madhubani and area
of 9 decimal in favour of Chhatar Saday, the father of petitioner
no. 5, namely Bal Kumar Saday in Khata No. 55, Plot No. 12,
village - Sonbarsha, Circle - Lokhat, District - Madhubani
respectively.
3. Thereafter, pursuant to order dated 25.06.1996
passed by the co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide M.J.C. No.
Patna High Court CWJC No.8685 of 2026(2) dt.29-06-2026
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2018 of 1995, the original land holders get back their land
which prompted the respondent authorities to cancel the parcha
issued in favour of the petitioners, thereby rendering them again
landless.
4. The petitioner’s counsel further submits that the
petitioners approached the authorities for providing certified
copies of Ceiling Case No. 75/1973-74 and Ceiling Case No.
66/1973-74, but they are not being provided any copies of the
aforesaid cases.
5. In this backdrop, learned counsel for the petitioners
restricts their prayers only to the extent of issuing a direction to
the respondent authorities for providing certified copies of the
case records related to Ceiling Case No. 75/1973-74 and
Ceiling Case No. 66/1973-74 so that they can have recourse to
their legal remedy available to them in accordance with law.
6. In view of the modified prayer made by the learned
counsel for the petitioners, the District Magistrate-cum-
Collector, Madhubani is hereby directed to ensure the supply of
certified copies of the aforesaid cases i.e. Ceiling Case No. 75 of
1973-74 and Ceiling Case No. 66 of 1973-74 to the petitioners
within a period of three months henceforth on deposit of
Patna High Court CWJC No.8685 of 2026(2) dt.29-06-2026
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requisite court fee as per the rules.
7. Accordingly, this writ application stands disposed
off.
(Rana Vikram Singh, J)
Saurabh.kr/
Supratim-
U
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