Patna High Court
Lucky Kumari BhartiversusThe Patna Municipal Corporation
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- ANSHUMAN
Holding
The court directed the petitioners to file individual representations within 30 days and the Patna Municipal Corporation to pass a reasoned order within six months, thereby disposing of the writ petition.
Summary
A group of 87 individuals, comprising both retired and serving employees, filed a writ petition before the Patna High Court seeking payment of legal dues, including pension arrears and penal interest, from the Patna Municipal Corporation. The petitioners alleged that their individual representations before the corporation remained pending without any order and requested liberty to file fresh representations and for the corporation to decide within a specified time. The corporation contended that the petition was defective, pointing out a discrepancy in the number of petitioners and arguing that pension cannot be awarded to those still in service. The court, without delving into the merits, noted that the petitioners were not pressing the substantive issues and therefore exercised its discretion to direct procedural compliance. It granted the petitioners a 30‑day period to file individual representations and directed the corporation to consider them phase‑wise and issue a reasoned order within six months, giving priority to retired petitioners. The court clarified that the representations of retired persons should be disposed of before those of serving employees. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed of with the above directions.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate remedy when a writ petition contains alleged procedural defects and a large number of petitioners with mixed service status?
- Can the court direct the petitioners to file fresh representations and impose a time‑bound order on the municipal corporation despite the petition's alleged deficiencies?
Subjects
- writ petition
- legal dues
- pension arrears
- penal interest
- municipal corporation
- procedural defect
- representation
- civil writ jurisdiction
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.9658 of 2022
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1. Lucky Kumari Bharti Son of Late Ramji, R/o Mohalla-Sadanpur 18, P.S.-
Bhadurpur, District-Patna.
2. Bajanti Devi, W/o Late Naresh, R/o Mohalla-Bataura, P.S.-Beur, District-
Patna.
3. Manju Devi, W/o Late Shekhar Ram, R/o Mohalla-Mina Bazar, P.S.-
Alamganj, District-Patna.
4. Rina Kumari, D/o Late Kalai, R/o Mohalla-Bakarganj, P.S.-Gandhi Maidan
Bankipur, District-Patna.
5. Dhurpati Devi, Wife of Late Lalan, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh,
District-Patna.
6. Kaushalya Devi, W/o Late Mahendra, R/o Mohalla-Lohanipur, P.S.-Kadam
Kuan, District-Patna.
7. Raju Ram, son of Late Fannua, R/o Mohalla Nala Road Ambedkar Colony,
P.S. Kadamkuan, District Patna.
8. Chhunu Ram, son of Chunni Ram, R/o Mohalla-Nala Road, P.S.-Kadam
Kuan, District-Patna.
9. Nisha Devi, D/o Late Lalti, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-
Patna.
10. Juli Devi, D/o Late Devanti, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur , P.S.-Gardanibagh,
District-Patna.
11. Bina, Wife of Late Lalan Ram, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh,
District-Patna.
12. Santiya, D/o Late Ram Naresh, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh,
District-Patna.
13. Minna, Wife of Late Mathura, R/o Mohalla-Lohanipur, P.S.-Kadamkuan,
District-Patna.
14. Sunil, Son of Late Sushila, R/o Mohalla-Lohanipur, P.S.-Kadamkuan,
District-Patna.
15. Tetari, Wife of Late Rajendra, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh,
District-Patna.
16. Manilal Thakur @ Manilal son of Anuplal, R/o Mohalla-Durga Mandir Kasi
College, P.S.-Khagariya, District-Khagariya.
17. Vishwanath, son of Late Ram Preet, R/o Mohalla-Sandalpur, P.S.-
Bahadurpur, District-Patna.
18. Rameshwar Ram, son of Late Basant Ram, R/o Mohalla-Tipiya Toli
Rastwadi Chauraha, Purbi Nand Gola, P.S.-Malsalami, District-Patna.
19. Parmanand Ravidas, son of Sohan Das, R/o Mohalla-Dariyapur, P.S.-Parsa
Bazar, District-Patna.
20. Amarjit, son of Late Lagan, Resident of Mohalla-Rajendra Nagar Road No.
8, P.S.-Agamkuan, District-Patna.
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21. Most. Rukha Devi, Wife of Gulab, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh,
District-Patna.
22. Jogendra Bind, Son of Late Ramdev Bind, R/o Mohalla-Mohalal Rupashpur
Nahar Par, P.S.-Rupaspur Nahar Par, District-Patna.
23. Suryadev Paswan, son of Late Sitaram, R/o Mohalla-Gardanibagh Road No.
16, P.S.-Sachivalya, District-Patna.
24. Saryu Das, son of Late Lilo Das, resident of Village-Ranadih, P.S. Tisri,
District Giridih.
25. Baijnath, son of Late Chulhae, R/o Mohalla-Purbi Lohanipur, P.S.-
Kadamkuan, District-Patna.
26. Karu Ram, son of Late Bihari Ram, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Gandhi Chowk,
P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
27. Heeralal, son of Late Jitan Ram, R/o Mohalla-Mandiri, P.S.-Buddha Colony,
G.P.O, District-Patna.
28. Rakesh Kumar, son of Late Motichandra, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Ambedkar
Colony, P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
29. Amarjit Kumar @ Amarjit son of Late Ritwa, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur
Ambedkar Colony, P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
30. Most. Kanti Devi, Wife of Late Rekha, Resident of Mohalla Bakarganj Nala
Par, P.S. Gandhi Maidan, District Patna.
31. Suryug Ram, H/o Stiwa, Resident of Mohalla Lakani Bigha Dawarkapuri,
P.S. Danapur, District Patna.
32. Baldev Prasad, son of Late Jamunna Prasad, Resident of Mohalla-Sadikpur
Masjid Ke Pichai, P.S. Alamganj, District Patna.
33. Ramjanam, Son of Late Kaleshwar, Resident of Mohalla Kadamkuan, P.s.
Kadamkuan, District Patna.
34. Bharamdev Prasad, son of Late Siyaram Rai, R/o Mohalla Ramjichak Digha,
Bataganj, P.S. Digha, District Patna.
35. Shiv Kumar Singh, son of Late Raghunandan Singh, R/o Village Dudhaila
Gacche, P.S. Sonpur, District Patna.
36. Firoz Alam, son of Late Maksud Hasan, R/o Mohalla Mangal Talab, P.S.
Chowk, District Patna.
37. Most. Lurki, W/o Late Munna, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Ambedkar Colony, P.S.-
Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
38. Bimla @ Bimla Devi W/o Late Ganauri, R/o Mohalla Loha Ke Pul Noon K
Chauraha, P.S. Mehandiganj, District Patna.
39. Arun Kumar, son of Late Sita Ram, R/o Mohalla-Nala Road, P.S.-
Kadamkuan, District-Patna.
40. Most. Sarli Devi, Wife of Bansi, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Ambedkar Colony,
P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
41. Lageshar Das, son of Late Janki Das, R/o Mohalla-Saidpur Tekari Bhawan,
P.S.-Kadamkuan, District-Patna.
42. Most. Anguri, Wife of Late Kalim, R/o Mohalla-Gardanibagh, P.S.-
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Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
43. Falkani, Wife of Late Nagina Resident of Mohalla Mahendru Ghat, J. P.
Road, P.S. Pirbahore, District Patna.
44. Durga Kumar, Son of Late Satan, Resident of Mohalla Kankarbagh, P.S.
Kankarbag, District Patna.
45. Rajo Ram, son of Late Ajay Lal, R/o Mohalla-Gardanibagh Domahala
G.P.O., P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
46. Bindeshwar Prasad, son of Govind, Resident of Mohalla Herudiyara, P.S.
Kashim Bazar, District Patna.
47. Vishwanath, son of Late Faiku, R/o Mohalla-Lohanipur East, P.S.-
Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
48. Ramnarayan Singh, son of Devsaran Singh, R/o Mohalla-Narayan Nagar
Balamichak, P.S.-Phulwari, District-Patna.
49. Most. Kanti Devi, Wife of Late Chamru Bind, R/o Mohalla-Kaushalya
Nagar Polo Road, P.S.-Hawai Adda, District-Patna.
50. Ravindra Ram, son of Late Ram Babu, R/o Mohalla-Gaighat, P.S.-
Bakarganj, District-Patna.
51. Pahalad Prasad Singh, son of Late Basanti Singh, R/o Mohalla-Karbigahiya
Kali Mandir, P.S.-Jakkanpur, District-Patna.
52. Shivpujan Ram, son of Late Babulal Ram, R/o Mohalla-Beur, P.S.-Beur,
District-Patna.
53. Kishore Ram, son of Raghunath, R/o Mohalla-Takiyapar, P.S.-Danapur,
District-Patna.
54. Faiku, son of Late Basanti, R/o Mohalla-Musalahpur Hat, P.S.-Sultanganj,
District-Patna.
55. Ajay Basphoir, son of Late Bhagirath, R/o Mohalla-Nurdiganj, P.S.-Malami,
District-Patna.
56. Most. Tamana Devi, Wife of Late Mohan, R/o Mohalla-Purbi Lohanipur,
P.S.-Kadamkuan, District-Patna.
57. Kamata son of Late Raja Ram, R/o Mohalla-Nutan Rajdhani Anchal, P.S.-
Sachivalaya, District-Patna.
58. Parsuram Paswan, son of Late Ramkishun Paswan, R/o Mohalla-Bhathiyar,
P.S.-Harnaut, District-Nalanda.
59. Rajdev Ram, son of Late Ram Saurup Ram, R/o Mohalla-Ambedkar Colony
Yarpur, P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
60. Ramesh, son of Munnawa, Resident of Mohalla Ajimabad, P.S.
Mehandiganj, District Patna.
61. Radhika, D/o Late Munnawa, Resident of Mohalla Loha Ke Pul, P.S.
Mehandiganj, District Patna.
62. Munna Ram, son of Late Ganesh Ram, R/o Mohalla Hajiganj, P.S. Chowk,
District Patna.
63. Most. Raj Kumari Devi, Wife of Ramji Manjhi, R/o Mohalla Rupaspur
Naharpar, P.S. Rupaspur, District Patna.
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64. Chintwa, D/o Ganeshi, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Ambedkar Colony, P.S.-
Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
65. Bablu Ram, son of Late Nirmala, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Ambedkar Colony,
P.S.-Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
66. Dhananjay Kumar, Son of Lalan, R/o Mohalla-r-Block, Road No. 8, P.S.-
Sachivalaya, District-Patna.
67. Shankar Ram, son of Late Hiriya, R/o Mohalla P.M.C.H. Karamchari
Quarter A, Block Road No. 26, P.S. Pirbahore, District Patna.
68. Bibhuti Sran Sinha, son of Late Biswanaqth Lal, resident of Mohalla
Prithvipur, P.S. Kakkanpur, District Patna.
69. Uday Kumar Singh, son of Late Nageshwar Singh, Resident of Mohalla
Bahadurpur, P.S. Bahadurpur, District Patna.
70. Shiv Shankar, son of Late Dawarka, R/o Mohalla-Patna City P.S.-City,
District-Patna.
71. Rameshwar Das, son of Somar Das, R/o Mohalla-Khairwani, P.S.-
Rajdhanwar, District-Giridih.
72. Rani Devi, Doughter of Late Laltiya, R/o Mohalla-Saidpur Nagar Colony,
P.S.-Bahadurpur, District-Patna.
73. Ramnandan Prasad, son of Late Moti Yadav, R/o Mohalla-Purani
Kankarbagh, P.S.-Patrakar Nagar, District-Patna.
74. Vishwanath Prasad, son of Late Dharmnath Prasad, R/o Mohalla-Raja G.K.
Makan Kuswaha Bhawan, P.S.-Kadamkuan, District-Patna.
75. Ram Kishun son of Late Ganga, R/o Mohalla Chitkohara Nahar Par G.P.O.,
P.s. Gardanibagh, District Patna.
76. Sadhu Paswan, son of Late Laxman Paswan, R/o Mohalla-Chitkohra, P.S.-
Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
77. Binda Devi, Wife of Late Vinod, Resident of Mohalla Loha Ke Pul, P.S.
Mehandiganj, District Patna.
78. Raj Kumar Bind, son of Late Shiv Kumari, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur, P.S.-
Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
79. Most. Rajpati Devi, Wife of Late Sukhlal, Resident of Mohalla Hatwa, P.S.
Gagha, District Gorakhpur.
80. Badri Kumar, son of Late Shankar Raut, Resident of Mohalla Belwarganj,
P.S. Alamganj, District Patna.
81. Jogenedra Bind, son of Ramdev Bind, R/o Mohalla-Danapur, P.S.-Danapur,
District-Patna.
82. Ramnandan Prasad, son of Moti Yadav, R/o Mohalla-Kankarbagh behind
Commerce College, Patna, P.S. Kankarbagh, District Patna.
83. Pappu Kumar, son of Late Ram Chandra Ram, resident of Mohalla Purani
Sonu Kumar, aged about 40 years, Male, son of Late Vijay Krishan,
Resident of Village Barktiyarpur, P.S. Baktiyarpur, District Patna.
84. Sonu Kumar, son of Late Vijay Krishan, Resident of Village Bakhtiyarpur,
P.S. Bakhtiyarpur, District Patna.
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85. Jagarnath, son of Late Badri, Resident of Mohalla Chhaju Bag, P.S. Gandhi
Maidan, District Patna.
86. Shivnath Paswan, son of Late Harinarayan Paswan, Resident of Mohalla
Abdulahpur, P.S. Fatuha, District Patna.
87. Bigra, Son of Late Parwatiya, R/o Mohalla-Yarpur Ambedkar Colony, P.S.-
Gardanibagh, District-Patna.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Patna Municipal Corporation Maurya Lok, Budha Marg, Patna through
its Municipal Commissioner.
2. The Municipal Commissioner, Patna Municipal Corporation, Maurya Lok,
Budha Marg, Patna.
3. The Finance and Accounts Officer, Patna Municipal Corporation, Maurya
Lok, Budha Marge, Patna.
4. The Executive Officer, New Capital, Circle (NCC), Bankipur Circle,
Kankarbag Circle, Ajimabad Circle, Patna City Circle, Patliputra Circle,
Patna of the Patna Municipal Corporation.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Vijay Kumar Singh, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Ranjeet Kumar Pandey, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DR. ANSHUMAN
ORAL ORDER
3 31-01-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned
counsel for the Respondent-Patna Municipal Corporation.
2. The present writ petition has been filed for issuance
of an appropriate writ/writs, order/orders, direction/directions
for commanding the respondent authority to pay all the legal
dues including arrears of pension and penal interest due to
neglecting attitudes committed on the part of the respondent
authority and the other admissible amount which are payable in
accordance with law.
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3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submit that in
the present writ petition, there are in total 87 petitioners.
Counsel submits that for the relief, individual representations
are pending before the Patna Municipal Corporation on which,
no order has been passed as yet. Therefore, without entering into
the merits or demerits of the case, he submits that the petitioners
be granted liberty to file a fresh representation before the Patna
Municipal Corporation, and the Patna Municipal Corporation
upon considering the merits of their representations, pass an
order within a specified period of time.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the Respondent-
Patna Municipal Corporation on the other hand submits that the
petition is defective. He submits that the copy of the petition
supplied to him contains 90 petitioners. He further submits that
in para 1, prayer has been made for grant of legal dues including
arrears of pension and penal interest to the petitioners, whereas,
in para 3, it has been stated that some of the petitioners are
working and some of them retired. With this pleading, he
submits that the pension cannot be paid to employees who are
still working. In this view of the matter, counsel submits that
this writ petition is defective and be dismissed on this ground
alone.
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5. This Court, without entering into the merits or
demerits of the case, and in light of the submissions made by
learned counsel for the petitioners who is also not pressing the
matter on its merits, grants liberty to the petitioners to file their
individual representations in respect of their grievances before
the Patna Municipal Corporation within a period of 30 days
from today and the Patna Municipal Corporation within a period
of six months shall consider the representation of the petitioners
phase-wise and then pass a reasoned and speaking order in the
light of their representation. It is made clear that those persons
who are retired, their representation be disposed off at the
earliest prior to those who are in service.
6. Accordingly, with the aforesaid direction, this writ
petition stands disposed off.
(Dr. Anshuman, J)
Divyansh/-
U
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