Patna High Court
Bijay Narayan JhaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The contempt application was dismissed, with the Court granting the petitioner liberty to pursue the matter before the appropriate forum.
Summary
Petitioner Bijay Narayan Jha filed a contempt application alleging that the District Land Acquisition Officer (Opposite Party No. 3) willfully ignored a prior order dated 22 January 2026 directing the officer to consider the petitioner’s representation and act in accordance with law. The show‑cause memo dated 10 February 2026 revealed that the officer had rejected the petitioner’s claim, prompting the contempt petition. The High Court examined whether the non‑compliance amounted to contempt and whether the matter should be pursued through a regular forum. The Court held that the petitioner could pursue the grievance before the appropriate forum and did not find sufficient ground to proceed with contempt. Consequently, the contempt application was disposed of, granting the petitioner liberty to agitate the matter elsewhere.
Issues considered
- Does the failure of the District Land Acquisition Officer to act on the earlier order constitute contempt of court?
- Should the contempt proceedings be entertained or should the petitioner be directed to approach the appropriate forum for relief?
Subjects
- contempt of court
- civil writ jurisdiction
- land acquisition
- non‑compliance with court order
- high court procedure
- petitioner's representation
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.609 of 2026
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.784 of 2026
======================================================
Bijay Narayan Jha Son of Late Bhairav Jha, Resident of Mohalla- Adarsh
Vihar Colony, Rukanpura, P.S.- Rupaspur, District- Patna.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar.
2. Smt. Varsha Singh, Daughter of not known to petitioner, the District
Magistrate, Vaishali.
3. Shri Govind Kumar, Son of not known to petitioner, the District Land
Acquisition Officer-cum-Competent Authority, Vaishali.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Krishna Chandra, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Subhash Pd. Singh, GA-3
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
2 24-04-2026 Heard Mr. Krishna Chandra, learned counsel for the
petitioner and and the State.
2. The present application has been preferred:
for initiating the Contempt
Proceedings against the Opposite Parties for
willfully and deliberately not complying with
the direction issued vide Order dated
22.01.2026 passed in CWJC No.-784/2026
by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Roy, by which
the concerned Opposite Parties especially
Opposite Party No.-3 was obliged to
consider the representation of the petitioner
and take the same to its logical conclusion in
accordance with law.
Patna High Court MJC No.609 of 2026(2) dt.24-04-2026
2/2
3. The show cause of opposite party no. 3 is on record
which shows that vide memo no. 208 dated 10.02.2026, the
District Land Acquisition Officer, Vaishali has rejected the claim
of the petitioner.
4. Granting liberty to the petitioner to agitate the
matter before appropriate forum/ Court, MJC No. 609 of 2026 is
disposed of.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Vijay Singh/-
U
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