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1999 Supreme(Pat) 795

HIGH COURT OF PATNA
AFTAB ALAM, J.
Birendra Prasad Singh - Petitioner (In CWJC 4478/98)
Anirudh Singh & Others - Petitioner (In CWJC 6682/98)
Vs.
State of Bihar & Ors. - Respondents (In both Cases)
CWJC Nos. 4478 & 6682 of 1998
Decided on : 20.8.1999

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioners (in both Cases):Ram Suresh Roy, Sr. Advocate, Binod Bihari Singh and R. Jha.
For the State (in both Cases) : Sanjay Singh, S.C. IX & A.K. Singh, SC III.
For the Intervenor (In CWJC No. 6682/98) :Ganesh Pd. Singh, Sr. Advocate & Arun Kumar No.1.
For the Respondent no. 4 (In CWJC No. 4478/98):Ganesh Pd. Singh, Sr. Advocate & Arun Kumar No.1.

Headnote:Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956 - Section 2 (1A)-Civic Amenities-Installation of statues and construction of gates on public road at instance of local MLA and support of officials-Such act cannot be called an act of the State-The present MLA and the officers currently holding the posts of District Magistrate and the SDO do not constitute the State- The rights of the State over public land are circumscribed by the right of user or of any other right enjoyed by the general public and the State can deprive the member of the general public of their rights only in accordance with law-Statues, platform and gates must be removed and be installed at suitable site in accordance with relevant rules. (Paras 16 & 17)

       

ORDER

Tenduni Chowk is under Bikramganj subdivision in the district of Rohtas. It lies at the junction of two States Highways and this perhaps is its only claim to importance. Judging from the general conditions prevalent in the sub-divisional level Bazars/Chowks in this State, it is highly unlikely that Tenduni Chowk would have an adequate water supply system or a sufficiently safe system of sanitation. The lack of civic facilities in every day life does not seem to have deterred some of the local residents of this place under the leadership of the local M.L.A. to resolve to instal the statues of four departed leaders, namely, (i) Mahatma Gandhi, (ii) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, (iii) Sri B.P. Mandal and (iv) Sri Jagedo Prasad Mahto. Apart from the four statues it was also decided to construct four 'gates' for the beautification of the place. In the present fragmented state of our society one may come across people who would question the selection of the leaders and would even impute narrow motives to the sponsors of the scheme. There may also be some people who would question the idea of constructing 'gates' for the beautification of the place. They would point out that the 'gate' consisting of two vertical rectangular concrete• pillars joined at the top by a 'horizontal concrete beam makes a rather ugly structure, devoid of any beauty and it would not add to the beauty of the place.

2. However, beauty as it is said, lies in the eyes of the beholder and the selection of the leaders for thus being honoured depends upon the personal predilection of the selectors. These aspects of the matter, therefore, are of absolutely no concern to this court. What, however, becomes a matter of concern to this court is the objection raised on behalf of the petitioners, and quite vehemently too, regarding the spots at which the four statues are installed and the gates are being constructed.

3. In order to appreciate the objection raised on behalf of the petitioners it would be necessary to broadly follow the geography of the place. It may be noted here that in pursuance of the order, dated 5.7.99 passed in CWJC No. 4478/1998, the S.D.O. Bikramganj has filed a supplementary counter affidavit enclosing as Annexure-B a 'site plan of Tenduni Chowk, Bikramganj'. A similar map is also enclosed as an annexure in the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the respondents (and affirmed by the Executive Engineer, Road Construction Division, Dehri-on-Sone) in CWCJ No. 6682/1998. It is on the basis of the aforesaid site plans that this court proceeded to examine the spots where the four statues are installed and four' gates' are being constructed.

4. Tenduni Chowk is situate where two State highways cross each other. It is at this place that Sasaram-Arrah road running from south to north is intersected, almost at right angles by the Dumraon-Nasriganj road running from west to east. A large round-about is formed at the point of intersection of the two roads. Also passing through the point of inter section of the two roads is the Sone canal which runs diagonally from north east to south west. The canal which naturally runs above the ground goes underground while passing through the round about formed at the point of intersection of the two roads. The existence of the canal considerably reduces the flanks of the two roads. From the site plant appears that towards the northern side of the roundabout the eastern flank of the Sasaram Arrah road is only 5.7 metres, that being the distance between the metalled portion of the road and canal. Towards further north of the road, the distance between the metalled portion of the road and the canal is shown to extend upto 16 metres. The same is the position regarding the northern flank of Dumraon-Nasriganj road towards the eastern side of the roundabout. The same position is duplicated as the canal comes out on the other side of the round-about and on that side too the canal does not appear to leave much space for the flanks of the






















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