Patna High Court
Sharda DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The Court granted the petitioners liberty to pursue contempt proceedings and disposed of the present application.
Summary
The petitioners Sharda Devi, Balshwar Singh and Ansanul Haque filed an application seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against several revenue officers of Katihar for allegedly willfully violating a Patna High Court order dated 30‑April‑2024 in CWJC No.10249/2023, which directed early disposal of land‑settlement case 1/2015‑16. Despite the order, the land‑settlement case remained pending and the Additional Collector cancelled the Jamabandi by memo dated 26‑December‑2025. The court examined the show‑cause notice and the cancellation order, and granted the petitioners liberty to agitate the matter further. Consequently, the Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2594 of 2025 was disposed of, allowing the petitioners to pursue contempt action.
Issues considered
- Whether the revenue officers willfully violated the High Court’s order dated 30‑April‑2024 directing early disposal of the land‑settlement case.
- Whether contempt proceedings can be initiated against the officers for the alleged non‑compliance.
- Whether the cancellation of the Jamabandi by the Additional Collector is unlawful in view of the earlier court order.
Subjects
- contempt of court
- land settlement
- revenue law
- Jamabandi
- delay in disposal
- civil writ jurisdiction
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2594 of 2025
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.10249 of 2023
======================================================
1. Sharda Devi W/o Yogendra Sah, resident of Naya Tola, P.S. and District-
Katihar.
2. Balshwar Singh S/o Basudeo Singh, resident of Village- Udam Rekha P.S.-
Muffasil, District-Katihar.
3. Ansanul Haque @ Md. Ahsanul Haque S/o Sansul Haque, resident of
Village-Barbanna, P.S. and District-Katihar.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar x
2. Mr. Mahesh Kumar Mina, The Collector cum District Magistrate, Katihar.
3. Mr. Binod Kumar, Addl. Collector, Katihar.
4. Mr. Shashank Barnwal, The Deputy Collector Land Reform, Katihar.
5. Mr. Alok Chand Choudhary, The Sub-Divisional Officer, Katihar.
6. Mr. Anshu Kumar, The Circle Officer, Katihar.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Bhola Prasad, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Additional Advocate General 12
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
5 09-01-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The present application has been preferred for the
following relief(s):
for initiation of a contempt
proceeding against the erring Officers of
Revenue Department for willful violation of
order dated 30.04.2024 passed by this Court
in CWJC No. 10249/2023 in as much an in
spite of the order of this Hon'ble court for
early disposal of land settlement case No.
Patna High Court MJC No.2594 of 2025(5) dt.09-01-2026
2/2
1/2015-16 the same has not been disposed of
till date.
3. Pursuant to the last order, the show cause has come
annexing the order passed by the Additional Collector, Katihar
on 26.12.2025 by which the Jamabandi has been canceled.
4. The order has been passed vide memo no. 1294
dated 26.12.2025.
5. Granting liberty to the petitioner to agitate the
matter, the MJC No. 2594 of 2025 is disposed of.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Vijay Singh/-
U
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