Patna High Court
Bambam SahversusThe State of Bihar through Brajesh Mehrotra
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The Court disposed of the contempt application, directing the District Land Acquisition Officer to complete the payment as per the earlier order.
Summary
Petitioner Bambam Sah filed an application seeking a rule of contempt against the State of Bihar and other officials for allegedly willfully disobeying the High Court's order dated 28‑03‑2024 in Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 21329 of 2018. The petition alleged defiant attitude and deliberate non‑compliance with the order. Counsel for the National Highway Authority of India produced annexures showing a letter dated 05‑12‑2025 directing the District Land Acquisition Officer to make an immediate payment of Rs.11,11,051. The Court, after considering these facts, directed the District Land Acquisition Officer to take the matter to its logical conclusion and disposed of the contempt application. No contempt rule was issued, and the matter was left for the officer to implement the payment direction.
Issues considered
- What constitutes willful disobedience of a court order sufficient to attract contempt proceedings?
- Whether the steps taken by the NHAI and the District Land Acquisition Officer satisfy the compliance required by the earlier order.
Subjects
- contempt of court
- non‑compliance
- civil writ jurisdiction
- land acquisition
- NHAI
- court order enforcement
- payment direction
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2817 of 2024
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.21329 of 2018
======================================================
Bambam Sah Son of Late - Girdhari Sah, Resident of Village- Govindpur,
P.S.- Simri, District- Darbhanga.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Brajesh Mehrotra Fathers name not known to the
Petitioner, the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. Shree Dipak Kumar Singh, fathers name not known to the Petitioner, The
Principal Secretary, Department of Land Reforms, Government of Bihar,
Patna.
3. Rajiv Roushan, fathers name not known to the Petitioner, The District
Magistrate, Darbhanga.
4. Baleshwar Prasad, fathers name not known to the Petitioner, The District
Land Acquisition Officer-cum-competent Authority, Darbhanga.
5. Arun Kumar Srivastava, fathers name not known to the Petitioner, National
Highway Authority of India Ltd., through its Project Manager.
6. Lalit Kumar, fathers name not known to the Petitioner, The Project Manager,
National Highway Authority of India Ltd. Darbhanga.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Jay Prakash Singh, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Standing Counsel 25
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
3 09-01-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The present application has been preferred:
for issuance of a rule of contempt
against the opposite parties for their willful
disobedience, defiant attitude and deliberate
violation of the order dated 28.03.2024
passed in C.W.J.C. No. 21329 of 2018 by this
Court and on return of the rule and on such
cause as may be shown be pleased to convict
Patna High Court MJC No.2817 of 2024(3) dt.09-01-2026
2/2
and suitably punished for their such defiant
attitude and deliberate non-compliance.
3. Learned counsel for ‘the NHAI’ has taken this
Court to Annexure 6 and 6A to show that vide letter dated
05.12.2025, direction has been given to the District Land
Acquisition Officer, Darbhanga to take immediate steps for
payment of Rs. 11,11,051/-.
4. Taking into account the aforesaid facts and
directing the District Land Acquisition Officer, Darbhanga to
take the matter to its logical conclusion, MJC No. 2817 of 2024
is disposed of.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Vijay Singh/-
U
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