IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1779 of 2026 ======================================================

Anand Kumar Singh son of Ashok Singh, resident of village- Larui, P.O.

Kaniyari, P.S. Kargahar, District - Rohtas at Sasaram.

... ... Petitioner/s Versus

1. The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna. 2. The Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.

3. The District Magistrate Rohtas at Sasaram, District Rohtas at Sasaram.

4. The District Panchayat Raj Officer, Rohtas at Sasaram, District Rohtas at Sasaram.

5. The Executive Engineer, Local Area Engineering Organization, Works Division-1, Sasaram, District - Rohtas at Sasaram.

6. The Circle Officer, Kargahar, District - Rohtas at Sasaram.

7. The Gram Panchayat Raj, Akodhi, Block-Kargahar, District - Rohtas at Sasaram through the Panchayat Secretary.

8. The Mukhiya, The Gram Panchayat Raj, Akhodi, Block - Kargahar, District - Rohtas at Sasaram.

9. Jai Maa Vindhyawasini Construction, Mahalaxmi Nagar, Infront of District Judge Residence, Sasaram, P.O. and P.S Sasaram, District - Rohtas at Sasaram.

... ... Respondent/s ======================================================

Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Awnish Kumar, Adv.

For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Advocate (08)

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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR SINHA ORAL ORDER

2 03-02-2026 1. It has been submitted by Mr. Mangalam, learned counsel for the petitioner, that as per the guideline of the Panchayati Raj Department, the Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan is required to be constructed upon the land situated in Panchayat Headquarter. However, this requirement can be relaxed when no suitable land is available in the headquarter village of the Gram Panchayat for construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan. Accordingly, the meeting of Gram Panchayat was convened under the chairmanship of Mukhiya on 19.02.2024 and Gram Panchayat granted no objection for construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan upon Plot No. 328, Khata No. 88, situated in Mauza Larui Thana No. 333.

2. The site was subsequently approved by the District Magistrate after inspection and the Local Area Engineering Organisation published NIT for Construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan in the Plot No. 328 Khata No. 88. A tender was finalized and the work order was issued in favor of the contractor on 22.04.2025. As per the work order issued in favor of respondent No. 9, the work was also started on the subject land. While the work was going on, respondent no. 5 directed the contractor/respondent No. 9, to postpone the construction work of the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan without assigning any reason.

3. The District Magistrate again directed for inquiry and an Inquiry Committee was constituted, which after spot inquiry recommended for construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan on the approved Plot No. 328, Khata No. 88, and Mauza Larui on 29.11.2025. The District Panchayat Raj Officer again vide his Letter No. 2071 dated 29.12.2025 directed the respondent No. 9 to proceed with the construction work upon the aforesaid land in which work was initially started. 4. While the contractor was working on the land, selected by the Gram Sabha and approved by the District Magistrate, a fresh order was issued by respondent no. 5 vide letter no. 105 dated 17.01.2026 directing him for construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan in Plot Mo. 870 of Khata No. 211 situated in Mauja Akodhi.

5. The submission is that once the plot has been approved by the District Magistrate after inquiry conducted by a team of senior officers, the change of plot for construction of Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan by respondent no. 5 is completely arbitrary and without any basis.

6. Learned counsel for the State prays for and granted four weeks time to file counter affidavit.

7. Issue notice to the respondent nos. 7, 8 and 9 for which requisites etc. must be filed by both process i.e., ordinary