The petitioner must seek prior land conversion approval before pursuing compensation claims for acquired agricultural land.

CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PURNENDU SINGH ORAL ORDER

2 27-01-2026 Heard Mr. Braj Nandan Kumar Tiwary, learned counsel who is present on behalf of the petitioner; Mr. Sanjay Kumar, learned C.G.C. for the Union of India; Mr. Sriram Krishna, learned counsel for the National Highway Authority of India; and Mr. Pramod Kumar Singh, learned AC to SC-16 for the State.

2. The petitioner in paragraph no. 1 of the present writ petition has sought, inter alia, following relief(s), which is reproduced hereinafter:-

"1. That this Writ petition is being filed for issuance of an appropriate Writ/Writs, direction/directions to the respondents to make payment of compensation amount over the Survey Plot No. 954, Khesra No. 712 situated at Village Bharpura, Circle Sonepur in the district of Saran, Chapra as aforesaid land is ancestral property of the petitioner in which the Government of India decided/acquired the land for the construction and widening of National Highway No. 85 situated in Bharpura Village which was/is lying on Bihar State Highway No. 19 and also for payment of interest of award amount."

3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner seeks to withdraw the present application with a liberty to first file an application under Section 5 of the Bihar Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agriculture Purposes) Act, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as “Act, 2010”) in requisite Form No.3 giving all the details before the competent authority notified under the Act, 2010 for conversion of his land from agricultural to non-agricultural purpose in view of the fact that no such statement or information has been given by the petitioner in the writ petition. Thereafter, he seeks to file detail application before the District Magistrate-cum-Collector concerned for grant of due compensation in accordance with law as per the MVR of the area.

4. Considering the aforesaid submission, the petitioner, if so advised, may approach the appropriate authorities for redressal of his grievance expeditiously in accordance with law.

5. Accordingly, the present application stands disposed of.

(Purnendu Singh, J)