Sudhakar Jha vs State of Bihar - 2023 Supreme(Pat) 792

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2023 Supreme(Pat) 792

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
K. VINOD CHANDRAN, CJ. and PARTHA SARTHY, J.
CWJC No. 15060 of 2019 with LPA No. 842 of 2017 in CWJC No.16563 of 2012 with CWJC Nos. 3106 of 2017; 1840, 2728, 12063, 12493, 14087, 15012, 15840, 15921, 16002, 16337, 16426, 16634, 16673, 16908, 17067, 17445, 17899, 17985, 18087, 18379, 18437, 18786, 19144, 19202, 19265, 19455 of 2019, 19750, 19772, 20073, 20122, 20369, 20517, 20665, 20826, 20835, 20950, 20968, 21048, 21073, 21162, 21269, 21289, 21580, 21749, 21899, 22175, 22510, 22689, 22969, 23365, 23715, 23983, 23987, 24058, 24103, 24210, 24396, 24480, 24554, 24684, 24900, 24979, 25243, 25837 of 2019; 2, 87, 98, 165, 346, 348, 357, 656, 817, 865, 896, 923, 1723, 2130, 2296, 2437, 2490, 2777, 3622, 3901, 5026, 5408, 5614, 5786, 5887, 5943, 6009, 6312, 6401, 6478, 6648, 6784, 6983, 7022, 7039, 9107, 9257, 9526, 10084, 10259, 10416, 10448, 10555, 10888 of 2020; 389, 483, 779, 1067, 1942, 2390, 2501, 2708, 2867, 3470, 3889, 4588, 5449, 5781, 5862, 6183, 6984, 7202, 7282, 7700, 8186, 8197, 8403, 8606, 9717, 11657, 11659, 11660, 11664, of 2021; 12770, 12935, 12945, 13114, 13649, 14047, 14133, 15046, 17115, 17890, 18014, 18354, 18463, 18505, 18566, 19939, 19968, 20947, 21207, 21426 of 2021; 84, 532, 558, 922, 1683, 2104, 2332, 2527, 3043, 3147, 3164, 3658, 5955, 6676, 8074, 8146, 8273, 9005, 10100, 10119, 10998, 11402, 13305, 13531, 17297 of 2022 and 3204 of 2023
(13.10.2023)
Sudhakar Jha (in 15060)
Deo Muni (in 842)
Anil Kumar Singh (in 3106)
Abdul Haque (in 1840)
Tej Narayan Yadav & Ors. (in 2728)
Jitendra Kumar @ Jitendra Roy (in 12063)
Tek Narayan Yadav @ Tej Narayan Yadav @ Dukhran Yadav (in 12493)
Ram Kumar Singh (in 14087)
Prashuram Prasad Yadav (in 15012)
Surendra Singh & Ors. (in 15840)
Nandlal Ram (in 15921)
Ram Ratan Singh (in 16002)
Raj Kumar Prasad @ Raj Kumar & Ors. (in 16337)
Jagdish Ravat (in 16426)
Ashok Kumar Pathak (in 16634)
Mohan Kumar Mishra (in 16673)
Jeevan Kumar @ Jeevan Lal Das (in 16908)
Raj Kumar Prasad @ Raj Kumar & Ors. (in 17067)
Abdul Hafiz (in 17445)
Shyam Bhushan Shukla (in 17899)
Raj Kumar Prasad @ Raj Kumar & Ors. (in 17985)
Shri Mishri Parit @ Mishri Pandit (in 18087)
Brahma Singh @ Brahama Nand Singh (in 18379)
Ram Vinit Kumar (in 18437)
Bhashanand Prasad (in 18786)
Suresh Manjhi (in 19144)
Abdul Jabbar (in 19202)
Kailash Pandey (in 19265)
Budhan Singh @ Budhan Mahto (in 19455)
Sudarshan Yadav (in 19750)
Most. Chandra Kanta Devi & Ors. (in 19772)
Sk. Siraj (in 20073)
Kirti Nath Jha (in 20122)
Budhan Singh @ Budhan Mahto (in 20369)
Ram Chandra Prasad @ Ram Chandra Sah (in 20517)
Smt. Lalti Devi (in 20665)
Surendra Kumar Mishra (in 20826)
Bhagirath Singh @ Bhagwat Singh, (in 20835)
Raushan Kumar & Ors. (in 20950)
Bhola Ram @ Dr. Bhola Ram (in 20968)
Chandrika Chaudhary @ Chandrika (in 21048)
Shashibhusan Choudhary (in 21073)
Brijnandan Prasad (in 21162)
Saraswati Devi @ Sarosati Devi (in 21269)
Tapeshwar Ram (in 21289)
Arun Singh @ Arun Kumar Singh & Anr. (in 21580)
Indra Bhushan Choudhary (in 21749)
Prabhakar Jha (in 21899)
Yogendra Kumar @ Yogendra Kuer & Ors. (in 22175)
Rajesh Kumar Singh & Ors. (in 22510)
Dinanath Bhagat @ Dinanath Prasad @ Deenanath Bhagat (in 22689)
Mahadev Bhagat (in 22969)
Satya Narain Jha (in 23365)
Satyendra Kumar Singh & Ors. (in 23715)
Malti Devi (in 23983)
Ram Pravesh Singh (in 23987)
Dhirendra Kumar Singh (in 24058)
Raj Ballabh Prasad Singh (in 24103)
Ram Chandra Mahto (in 24210)
Ramashray Singh (in 24396)
Ram Suresh Rai (in 24480)
Ajay Kumar @ Sant Kumar @ Santlal Rai & Ors. (in 24554)
Mina Devi @ Bina Devi (in 24684)
Ram Sakal Ram & Anr. (in 24900)
Yogendra Sharma & Ors. (in 24979)
Sushil Kumar Singh & Ors. (in 25243)
Basistha Gupta (in 25837)
Kapil Deo Singh & Ors. (in 2)
Ranjit Kumar @ Ranjit Kumar Yadav & Anr. (in 87)
Jamil Akhtar (in 98)
Kapil Deo Singh & Ors. (in 165)
Rameshwar Goswami & Ors. (in 346)
Ram Niwas Choubey (in 348)
Nand Kumar @ Nand Kumar Singh @ Nanda Kumar & Anr. (in 357)
Ghulam Farid (in 656)
Ram Kumar Sah & Anr. (in 817)
Kanti Devi & Ors. (in 865)
Shyam Sunder Prasad @ Satya Narayan Mandal (in 896)
Bhima Singh (in 923)
Md. Mushtaque @ Md. Mushtaque Ahmad @ Mushtaque Ali (in 16002)
Rajendra Sah @ Rajendra Sahu & Anr. (in 1723)
Nand Kumar @ Nand Kumar Singh (in 2130)
Krishna Nandan Thakur & Ors. (in 2296)
Kishori Devi (in 2437)
Yogendra Sharma & Ors. (in 2490)
Ram Narayan Prasad @ Ram Narayan Mahto (in 2777)
Ram Dulari (in 3622)
Bhuvaneshwar Lal Das (in 3901)
Md. Salahuddin @ Md. Salaluddin & Ors. (in 5026)
Hridaya Narayan Singh @ Hriday Narayan Singh (in 5408)
Sri Prakash Rai (in 5614)
Ram Sagar Singh (in 5786)
Sadhu Lal Mahto (in 5887)
Bhrigunath Pathak & Ors. (in 5943)
Md. Jamiruddin & Ors. (in 6009)
Dorik Sahni @ Horil Sahni & Anr. (in 6312)
Mir Hasamuddin (in 6401)
Kishori Devi (in 6478)
Nripendra Roy (in 6648)
Nand Kishore Dubey (in 16002)
Vijay Singh (in 6983)
Mir Hasamuddin (in 7022)
Lachhaminiya Devi (in 7039)
Hari Shankar Yadav (in 9107)
Srikrishun Lohar @ Srikrishun Sharma & Ors. (in 9257)
Devanand Choudhary (in 9526)
Gauri Devi & Anr. (in 10084)
Santosh Kumar (in 10259)
Md. Sikandar @ Sikandar (in 10416)
Bibhash Kumar (in 10448)
Umesh Kumar Singh (in 10555)
Harsh Vardhan Poddar & Ors. (in 10888)
Sitaram Rai (in 389)
Syed Ahmad (in 483)
Akhilesh Kumar Singh @ Akhil Kumar Singh (in 779)
Sri Kamlesh Kumar Chaudhary (in 1067)
Ajit Singh @ Ajit Kumar Singh & Ors. (in 1942)
Santosh Kumar Singh @ Santosh Singh & Anr. (in 2390)
Jaynandan Singh (in 2501)
Santosh Kumar Singh @ Santosh Singh & Anr. (in 2708)
Rama Shankar Singh (in 2867)
Bimal Kumar Singh (in 3470)
Santosh Kumar Singh @ Santosh Singh & Anr. (in 3889)
Raja Ram Sah (in 4588)
Smt. Sarswati Devi (in 5449)
Kamal Yadav @ Kamal Prasad Yadav (in 5781)
Debasish Kriti (in 5862)
Umesh Singh & Anr. (in 6183)
Jai Raj Chaudhary (in 6984)
Umesh Ram (in 7202)
Santosh Kumar Singh (in 7282)
Prashant Kumar @ Prasant Kumar (in 7700)
Bhola Yadav @ Bhola Prasad Yadav (in 8186)
Sandeep Kumar @ Sandip Kumar (in 8197)
Ramesh Prasad Singh (in 8403)
Sanjay Singh @ Sanjay Kumar (in 8606)
Ravindra Nath Tiwari (in 9717)
Md. Israfil (in 11657)
Manti Devi (in 11659)
Janak Singh (in 11660, 11664)
Raghunath Sah Gupta @ Raghunath Prasad Gupta (in 12770)
Radha Kishun Sah (in 12935)
Madheshwar Narayan & Ors. (in 16002, 13114)
Radha Devi (in 13649)
Harsh Nandan Jha & Ors. (in 14047)
Sri Ram Binay Singh @ Ram Vinay Singh (in 14133)
Gopal Mandal & Anr. (in 15046)
Md. Jaheer (in 17115)
Anil Kumar Singh (in 17890)
Shahanshah Alam (in 18014)
Dani Yadav & Anr. (in 18354)
Janardan Sharma & Anr. (in 18463)
Ramadhar Singh @ Ramadhar Sharma (in 18505)
Ramdas Yadav (in 18566)
Krishna Murari Baitha (in 19939)
Bhagwati Prasad & Anr. (in 19968)
Sakhichand Singh (in 20947)
Most. Pyaro Devi & Ors. (in 21207)
Sahid Mian (in 21426, 84, 558)
Shail Kumar Jha @ Shail Kumar (in 532)
Jogendra Pandey (in 922)
Sher Mohammed Miyan @ Sher Mohammed (in 1683)
Ram Chandra Yadav @ Chandra Yadav & Ors. (in 2104)
Usha Kumari (in 2332)
Mahadeo Yadav @ Mahadeo Prasad Yadav (in 2527)
Shivnath Yadav alias Shivjee Yadav (in 3043)
Ramayan Singh (in 3147)
Chandradev Chaudhari (in 3164)
Sakindra Singh @ Sakindra Prasad Singh @ Sakindar Singh & Ors. (in 3658)
Binod Singh (in 5955)
Sadanand Sharma (in 6676)
Anita Devi & Anr. (in 8074)
Indradeo Singh @ Indra Dev Singh (in 8146)
Jai Narayan Prasad (in 8273)
Braj Narayan Yadav @ Braj Narayan Prasad Yadav (in 9005)
Ravindra Singh (in 10100)
Suresh Prasad @ Suresh Prasad Yadav (in 10119)
Mahal Devi (in 10998)
Saraswati Prasad Singh (in 11402)
Navin Kumar Jha @ Navin Jha & Anr. (in 13305)
Nitya Nand Sharma (in 13531)
Dr. Anand Kumar Choudhary @ Anand Kumar Choudhary (in 17297)
Rajendra Yadav @ Rajendra Ray (in 3204)
vs.
State of Bihar & Ors. ... Respondents

Advocates appeared:
M/s. Abdul Wadood (in 6009); Abhay Nath (in 23365, 24554, 14133); Abhishek (in 10555); Abinash Kumar (in 18354, 21269, 9526); Ajay Kumar (in 87); Ajay Kumar Jha (in 13305); Akhileshwar Pandey (in 15012, 18087); Alok Kumar Alok, Uday Kumar Singh (in 5862, in 6312); Alok Kumar Sinha (in 19144, 19202); Ambuj Nayan Chaubey (in 842); Anil Kumar Roy (in 5408); Anil Singh (in 656); Anjani Kumar (in 23365, 24554, 14133); Anshuman Jaipuriyar (in 12063, 20073, 21048); Anuj Dilbar Krishna (in 25243); Apurva Kumar (in 2501); Arbind Kumar Singh (in 23983); Arghesh Kumar (in 8403, 8606); Arun Kumar (in 5786); Arun Kumar Pandey (in 6984); Arun Prasad Ambastha (in 2104, 2527, 8186, 8197, 13649, 14047, 1840, 2728, 10416); Arvind Kumar Varma(in 16908); Ashhar Mustafa (in 483); Ashok Kumar (10998); Ashok Kumar Singh (in 10100); Awadhesh Kumar Singh Tarun (in 23987, 25837); Baidya Nath Thakur (in 11657, 1558, 20122, 22689, 24684), 21749); Bam Bahadur Jha (in 15060, 15840, 20835); Bidhanesh Misra (in 532); Binay Kumar Sinha (in 15046, 10416); Binod Kumar (in 8074, 18786); Birendra Kumar Singh (in 165, 2, 21162); Bishwa Nath Chaudhary (in 15921); Bivutosh Kumar (in 3147, 3164); Braj Bhushan Mishra (in 3658); Braj Nandan Kumar Tiwary (in 3470); Chandra Sekhar Verma (in 13531, 18463, 18505); Chandra Shekhar Singh (in 17890); Deepak Kumar Sinha (in 9257); Dharmesh Kumar Shrivastava (in 6983); Dhirendra Singh (in 19750); Digvijay Narayan Singh (in 19265); Dipak Kumar (in 18379, 21580, 2777, 3622, 3901); Dr. K.N. Choubey, Sr. Adv. (in 15060, 15840, 20835); Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad (in 16002); Gajendra Kumar Jha (in 15060, 15840, 20835); Gopal Govind Mishra (in 20665) Gopal Prasad Roy (in 6648); Harsh Singh (in 2390, 2708, 3889); Himanshu Sagar (in 9107); Iqbal Asif Niazi (in 5026); Janardan Prasad Singh, Sr. Adv. (in 18379, 21580, 2777, 3622, 3901); Javed Aslam (in 19968); Jitendra Kishore Verma (in 24480, 23365, 24554, 14133); Jitendra Kumar (in 922, 3204); Jitendra Prasad Singh (in 11402, 16337, 17067, 17985, 21899, 24058, 1942, 2867, 7202); Kaushalesh Choudhary (in 865); Krishna Kant Singh (in 6183); Kushalendra Rai (in 10259, 22175); Kusum Kumar (in 2501); Lakshmi Kant Tiwary (in 12935); Mahendra Prasad Bhartee (in 2130, 357); Maheshwar Prasad (in 20517, 22510); Manish (in 12493, 19455, 20369); Manoj Kumar (in 24979, 2437, 2490, 6478, 6784, 3106); Maya Shankar Mishra (in 923); Md. Javed Jafar Khan (in 18014); Mrigendra Kumar(in 2501); Mritunjay Kumar (in 12945, 13114); Mukesh Kumar Jha (in 21289); Munna Kumar Upadhaya (in 20665); Nagendra Rai (in 10259, 22175); Narendra Kumar (in 11659, 11660, 11664); Naresh Chandra Verma (in 20950); Navesh Nandan (in 20826, 22969, 14087, 17899); Navin Nikunj (in 10259, 22175); Neeraj Kumar Singh (in 7282); Nishant Kumar Sinha (in 817, 24210); Pancham Lal Jaiswal, (in 24900); Prabhas Ranjan (in 17115, 3043); Pramod Mishra (in 10119, 5781, 9005); Pranav Kumar (in 24396, 896); Prashant Kumar (in 10888, 5943, 9717); Pratik Kumar Sinha (in 7039); Praveen Kumar (in 779); Radha Mohan Pandey (in 13531, 18463, 18505); Raghav Prasad (in 19939, 2332); Raju Kumar Singh (in 20947); Rakesh Kumar Shrivastava (in 5614); Ram Sandesh Roy (in 389); Ranjan Kumar Dubey (in 12770, 21207, 23715, 5449, 7700); Ratneshwar Prasad (in 10448); Ravi Raj (in 23365, 24554, 14133); Riya Giri (in 3147, 3164); Sanat Kumar Mishra (in 98); Sanjay Kumar Pandey (in 20968); Sanjay Parasmani (in 5955); Sanjeet Kumar (in 19265); Sarojanand Kumar (in 21073); Satish Chandra Mishra (in 21426, 84, 558); Satya Prakash Parasar(in 16426); Shailendra Kumar Singh (in 18379, 21580, 2777, 3622, 3901); Shama Sinha (in 18566); Shambhu Nath Choubey (in 6676); Shanti Pratap (in 16908); Sheo Jee Mishra (in 348); Shovendra Kumar (in 16634, 16673); Shreyash Goyal(in 23365, 24554, 14133); Subhash Kumar Jha (in 18437); Sumit Kumar Jha(in 3147, 3164); Sunil Kumar Jha (in 15060, 15840, 20835); Sunil Kumar Karn (in 346); Surendra Prasad Singh (in 24103); Suresh Mishra (in 8146); Surya Kant Mishra (in 19772, 15060, 15840, 20835); Sushil Kumar Jha (in 15060, 15840, 20835); Tanuja Kumari Mishra (in 532); Uday Pratap Singh (in 6401, 7022); Uma Shankar Singh (in 5887); Upendra Kumar Chaubey (in 8273); Vagisha Pragya Vacaknavi (in 1067, 1683, 17297, 4588); Vijay Anand (in 1723); Vijay Kumar Mishra (in 16634, 16673); Vijay Shanker Tiwari (in 3147, 3164); Vinay Ranjan (in 2296); Vinod Pandey (in 10084); Vinod Shankar Modi (in 16908); Waliur Rahman (in 17445, 24210, 5026);
M/s Alok Kumar Rahi, AC to AAG-4 (in 19144); Anjani Kumar (AAG-4) (in 20073, 21580, 24058, 2777, 19144); Apurva Kumar(in 19144); Arjun Prasad (in 16634, 16673); Arvind Kumar (in 19144); Asit Kumar Jha, AC to GP-2(in 10259); Avinash Kumar Pandey (in 2296); Basant Kumar Chaudhary, Sr. Adv. (in 19144); Dharmesh Kumar Shrivastava (in 348); Gyanand Roy (in 6009); Kaushal Kishore Mishra (in 21048); Lalit Kishore (Ag) (in 10888); Manjeet Kumar Roy (in 12935); Masoom Alam (in 16634, 16673); Md. Khurshid Alam, AAG-12(in 842, 2728, 12493, 13305, 15921, 16002, 16426, 17445, 17899, 18087, 18379, 18437, 18786, 19455, 19772, 20122, 20369, 20665, 20826, 20950, 21073, 21162, 21269, 21749, 21899, 22510, 22969, 23365, 23715, 23983, 23987, 24103, 24210, 24396, 24480, 24554, 24684, 24900, 24979, 25243, 25837, 2, 87, 98, 165, 346, 348, 357, 656, 817, 865, 896, 1558, 2130, 2296, 3622, 3901, 5026, 5408, 5786, 5887, 6009, 6312, 6478, 6648, 6983, 7700, 8197, 8403, 11657, 11659, 12770, 14047, 14133, 15046, 17115, 17890, 18014, 18354, 18566, 19968, 12945, 13114, 922, 1683, 2104, 2527, 3043, 3147, 3164, 5955, 6676, 8074, 8146, 8273, 9005, 10119, 10998, 13531, 16673, 2490); Mr. Sanjeet Kumar Singh, AC to AAG-6 (in 15060); Navnit Kumar, AC to GP-18 (in 12935, 18505, 21207, 21426, 923, 5943); P. K. Shahi, AG. (in 19144, 19202, 14087, 15840, 16908, 10084, 10416, 10448, 10555, 1067, 13649, 1942, 2332, 2501, 2708, 2867, 3470, 3889, 389, 4588, 483, 5781, 5862, 6183, 6401, 6784, 7202, 7282, 779, 8186, 9107, 9257, 9717, 2390, 7039, 9526, 21289); Pawan Kumar (A.C. To A.G.) (in 10100, 17297, 11402); Prashant Pratap, GP-2 (in 10259); Prerna Anand, AC to GP-18 (in 12935, 18505, 21207, 21426, 5943, 923); Raj Kishore Roy (Gp18) (in 12935, 18505, 84, 923, 21207, 21426, 5943); Rajni Kant Singh (in 2390, 3889); Rishi Raj (in 19144); Rishi Raj Sinha (SC 19) (in 558, 11660, 1723, 22175, 3106, 1840, 12063, 16337); Sajid Salim Khan (SC 25) (in 11664, 18463, 20947, 3658, 532, 19939, 3204, 15012, 17067, 7022); Sanjeet Kumar Singh, AC to AAG-6 (in 16634, 19144, 21048, 22689, 5614, 19265, 19750, 20517, 20835, 20968); Sanjeev Kumar(in 19144); Shashi Sekhar Tiwary (in 5449); Subash Chandra Yadav (Gp15) (in 2437, 6984, 8606, 17985); Sulekha Kumari, AC to GP-18 (in 12935, 18505, 5943, 923, 21207, 21426); Surendra Kishore Thakur(in 12935); Surendra Kumar Mishra (in 3889, 2390); Utkarsh Bhushan(in 19144);
For the Respondent: Mr. Kaushal
No.7 to 9 Kishore Mishra (in 5614)
For the Respondent Nos.: M/s Rajesh Kumar,
5, 6, 9, 11, 12 Manoj Kumar, Praveen Kumar(in 10888)
For the Respondent: Mr. Rajni Kant
No. 7 Singh (in 2708)
For the Respondent: Mr. Surendra
No. 8 Kumar Mishra (in 2708)
For the Respondent: M/s Ajit Kumar,
No.5 Nalin Ranjan, Abhay Kumar (in 12770)

Headnote:
Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 – Section 16(3) – Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Surplus Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2019 – Section 2 – Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2016 – Sections 30, 32 and 45 – Constitution of India – Article 31A – Right to Pre-emption – Repeal of Section 16(3) – By two amendment Acts, sub-section (3) to Section 16 and Section 45B of Act have been repealed while sub-sections (3) and (4) to Section 30, sub-section (4) to Section 32 and Section 45D were added – By Amendment Acts there is neither any violation of Articles 14 and Article 19 of Constitution nor of any other provision of Constitution – Right of pre-emption created under statute could have violated Articles 14 and 19, requiring Presidential assent, without which it would be rendered unconstitutional – However, subject amendments which deleted/omitted such rights created on pre-emptor does not violate Articles 14 and 19 and require no Presidential assent under Article 31A – Amendment Act, 2019 in no way affected object or purpose of principal Act – Statutory right flowing from Section 16(3) was not a vested right of an individual – Amendment Act, 2016 and Amendment Act, 2019, none of amendments affect main purpose of or go beyond principal Act – Petitioners have not been able to make out any case on any of grounds to challenge constitutional validity of two amendment Acts – Both amendment Acts of 2016 and 2019 are constitutionally valid. (Paras 35, 36, 43, 45, 47, 48 and 49)
Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 – Section 16(3) – Deletion of right to Pre-emption – In view of Section 16 of Act as it stands after amendment by Amendment Act, 2019 as also in view of Judgment of Supreme Court in case of Punyadeo Sharma 2022(1) BLJ 434 (SC), all cases or proceedings which may be pending before any authority or Court stands abated and amount deposited shall be refunded in the manner as provided in Section 16(4) of Act – After repeal of Section 45B of the Act by Amendment Act, 2016, proceedings pending before State Government or Bihar Land Tribunal as also pending before Collector shall stand abated – Those matters arising out of an application under Section 45B of Act having been decided by Authorities or Tribunal and applications preferred against said orders being pending in this Court, though Constitutional validity of Amendment Act, 2016 has been upheld, these cases will have to be listed before appropriate bench having roster, for it to be decided on it's own merits. (Paras 51 and 52)

Partha Sarthy, J. – The petitioners in these applications have challenged the constitutional validity of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2016 (herein after referred to as the ‘Amendment Act, 2016’) as also that of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Surplus Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 2019 (herein after referred to as the ‘Amendment Act, 2019’). The petitioners have also challenged the orders passed in their respective case by different authorities including the Additional Collector, the Commissioner of the Division and the Bihar Land Tribunal, all of which arise out of applications for pre-emption filed under section 16(3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 (herein after referred to as ‘the Act’ or ‘the principal Act’).

2. The case of the petitioners as evident from the contents of the applications are that the amendments are against the fundamental rights guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution as also against the principles of natural justice. It is ultra vires Article 14 of the Constitution, against the legal rights and also takes away the vested right of an individual. Section 16(3) of the Act has been repealed in an arbitrary manner without assigning any cogent reasons and the amendment is arbitrary, unconstitutional, unreasonable and ultra vires the parent Act. It should not be made applicable with retrospective affect. The amendment effected has not only been done in excess of the power granted under the Constitution; assent of the President; without which it is otiose, has not been taken before its promulgation. The parties have been harassed on account of pendency of the cases for decades and now the petitioners’ peremptory rights have been ordered to have abated. It is further contended that the amendment affected is beyond the competence of the State legislature and on account of repeal of section 45B of the Act, the statutory remedy of appeal/revision as was earlier available has been taken away without providing for any forum for adjudication of the disputes. As such, the contention is that the amendments be declared ultra vires the Constitution and the same be set aside.

3. Learned counsels who made their submissions on behalf of the petitioners were Senior Advocates Sri Kamal Nayan Choubey and Mr. J. S. Arora and Advocates Sri Jitendra Kishore Verma and Mr. Nagendra Rai. Sri P. K. Shahi, learned Advocate General led the argument on behalf of the respondent- State of Bihar. The other learned counsels who appeared in support of the amendment were Sri Basant Kumar Choudhary, Senior Advocate and Sri Sanjeev Kumar, Advocate. The other counsels depending on the sides that they were appearing for, adopted the arguments made by the above learned counsels.

4. Sri Kamal Nayan Choubey, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioners submitted that pursuant to Article 38 of the Constitution which provides a mandate for the State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people and Article 39, which lays down six Directive Principles, some of which are to ensure means of equal livelihood to men and women, ownership and control of resources be distributed to serve the best interest of the people, avoid concentration of wealth, ensure equal pay for equal work of men and women etc; legislative steps were taken in all the States as also in the State of Bihar. The same led to the enactment of the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950, the Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation Act, 1956 and the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961.

5. It was further contended that the Act which provided for fixation of ceiling area of land which a person could hold and the object of which was equitable distribution of land, after receiving the assent of the President was published in the gazette on 19.4.1