Rajesh Kumar And Anr vs State Of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary And Ors

The petitioners are the purchasers of the land which was initially settled in favour of one Baidya Nath Sahu by the Patna Municipal Corporation. After the death of the original lessee, the land in question came in possession of the respondents who are the legal heirs of aforesaid Mr. Sahu.

In the year 2011, a notice was issued to the petitioners by the Estate officer of Patna Municipal Corporation asking them to explain as to under what circumstances, a land which has been settled someone else and which lease deed is not transferable, the petitioners had purchased the property.

The petitioners appear to have responded to the aforesaid notice long time back but no decision as yet has been taken. The occasion for the Patna Municipal Corporation to issue such notice arose when an application was made by the petitioners for mutating their names in the lease.

Mr. Prasoon Sinha, learned advocate for the Patna Municipal Corporation submits that no action with respect to the aforesaid show cause notice is in contemplation for the present as can be inferred from the circumstance that no action has till now been taken on the notice which was issued in the year 2011. However, he does admit the obligation of the Corporation to dispose of the reply which has been filed by the petitioners pursuant to the notice issued by the Estate officer of the Corporation.

Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that the issue with respect to transferability of a lease deed stands settled by the decision of the Supreme Court, which affirms such leases to be transferable.

In any view of the matter, the show cause notice and the reply is required to be taken to its logical conclusion.

The Patna Municipal Corporation is therefore directed to dispose of the aforesaid reply furnished by the petitioners by a reasoned order. In case, the claim of the petitioners is found to be tenable, necessary order is also required to be passed for mutating the name of the petitioners in the record. The entire process be completed within a period of six months.

This Court has provided for this arrangement which has to be followed only if such reply of the petitioners has not been disposed of.

With the aforesaid direction/observation, the writ petition stands disposed of.