Rajiv Roy, J. – The controversy arises under the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 (for brevity, 'the Act of 1961'). The writ petitioner claimed that the order of the Collector which entitled his family, consisting of his wife and three minor sons, to only one ceiling unit of 20.82 acres of different categories of lands was wrong since two of his sons had attained majority as on 09.09.1970. An appeal was filed from the order of the Collector which did not obviously raise this contention. No further challenge by way of revision, as permissible under the statute was taken. The appellate order dated 28.02.1997 was not even produced in the writ petition, but later produced as Annexure-A. Obviously, there was no challenge against the appellate order in the writ petition. The writ petition filed in the year 2002, after more than five years from the date of the appellate order, stood allowed.

2. The learned Single Judge considering the pleadings of the writ petitioner directed that a Medical Board be constituted who would conduct scientific test to determine the age of the major sons and if they are found to have attained majority as on 09.09.1970 the Collector would issue a fresh notification.

3. The State's contention in the appeal is that there was no cause for invoking the extra ordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and in any event, the lands taken over from the writ petitioner was distributed to the landless people who have been impleaded as respondents 5 to 34. The State seeks to agitate the cause of the landless and also sustain the order passed under the Act of 1961.

4. Learned Government Advocate appearing for the State relied on two decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. State of Rajasthan vs. D. R. Laxmi, (1996) 6 SCC 445, found that when there is inordinate delay in filing a writ petition and steps taken in the acquisition proceedings have become final, the Court would be loath to interfere with the notification for acquisition. When an award was passed and possession was taken, it was held that the High Court though having power to quash a notification issued under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, under Article 226, should not normally exercise its power if there are delay and laches. This declaration was despite the fact that no third-party rights were created in that case. In the present case obviously, third party rights were created.

5. Durga Prashad vs. Chief Controller of Imports and Exports, (1969) 1 SCC 185, spoke on the discretion of the High Court under Article 226, on refusal to exercise which, normally, even the Supreme Court does not interfere with it, even if such cases are those in which fundamental rights are violated. Reliance was placed on Smt. Narayani Debi Khaitan vs. State of Bihar, C.A. No.140 of 1964, the judgment dated 22.09.1964, wherein it was held that exercise of discretion under Article 226 has to be left to the High Court which has to be exercised judiciously and reasonably even in cases where there is alleged breach of fundamental rights.

6. The 1st respondent who was the writ petitioner was issued with notice. However, none appeared for him consistently. We took up the matter today for hearing after having granted sufficient time for appearance, on the last posting date which was on 07.10.2023.

7. The original order dated 05.07.1995 was issued by the DCLR, Narkatiyaganj, the Collector as defined under the Act of 1961. The objections under Section 10(3) of the Act raised by the land holder-writ petitioner were considered; but he was found to be possessing 45.05 acres of lands of different classes. The land holder along with his family was allowed to retain 20.82 acres of different categories of lands, while 24.23 acres were declared surplus. The appeal preferred against the aforesaid original order was also dismissed by the appellate authority by order dated 28.02.1997. There was no further chall