Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.
Petitioner has prayed for the following reliefs: -
“i.For the direction to the officer in charge/Collector the concern respondent authorities to release the alleged Vehicle vide registration no: BR
01DL 0919 white colored Splender-I-Smart Motorcycle which was seized when the other accused Shashi Kumar and Ranjit Kumar who was arrested
on the spot along with alleged motorcycle was carrying the 5.100 litres foreign liquors.
ii. That for any other relief/reliefs for which the petitioner is entitled in facts and circumstances.â€
Learned counsel for the petitioner prays that the petition be disposed of in terms of the judgment dated 22.12.2020, passed in Civil Writ Jurisdiction
Case No.9592 of 2020 (Dharmendra Mahto versus The State of Bihar).
In the case of Dharmendra Mahto (supra) this Court has referred and discussed all the previous case laws on the subject. Some of the judgments
rendered in similar matters are as under:-
(i) Md. Shaukat Ali Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors., reported in 2020(3) PLJR 927.
(ii) Umesh Sah Versus The State of Bihar & Ors., reported in 2020(3) PLJR 931.
(iii) Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors., reported in 2020(3) PLJR 935.
The operating part of the judgment in the case of Md. Shaukat Ali are being briefly reproduced as under:-
“(a) Since the vehicle in question stands seized in relation to the FIR which stood registered long ago, in case confiscation proceeding has not been
initiated, it must be initiated within a period of 15 days from today and that confiscation proceeding stands initiated, we direct the appropriate authority
under the Act to forthwith ensure that such proceedings be concluded not later than 30 days.
(b) The petitioner undertakes to make himself available in the office of the concerned appropriate authority empowered under Section 58 of the Act
i.e. District Collector, in his/her office on 24.01.2020 at 10:30 A.M.
(c) We further direct the appropriate authority to positively conclude the confiscation proceeding within next thirty days on appearance of the
petitioner. If for whatever reason, such proceeding cannot be concluded, in that event it shall be open for the authority to take such measures, as are
permissible in law, for release of the vehicle in question by way of interim measure, on such terms as may be deemed appropriate, considering the
attending facts and circumstances of the case.
(d) If eventually, the appropriate authority arrives at a conclusion that the property is not liable to be confiscated, it shall be open for the petitioner to
seek damages in accordance with law and have appropriate proceedings initiated against the erring officials/officers.
Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the certified copy of the order shall be made available to the concerned District Collector on the date so
fixed.
For future guidance, where parties have not approached this Court, we issue the following direction:-
The expression “reasonable delay†used in Section 58 of Chapter VI of the Act, in our considered view, necessarily has to be within a reasonable
time and with dispatch, which period, in our considered view, three months time is sufficient enough for any authority to adjudicate any issue, more so,
when we are dealing with confiscatory proceedings.â€
The aforesaid directions were reiterated in the case of Umesh Sah (supra). Once again in the case of Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah (supra) this Court
dealt in detail the various provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the Excise Act or the Act of 2016).
In the recent judgment rendered by this Court in the case of Dharmendra Mahto (supra) this Court has issued further directions:-
“It is seen that till date, in large number of cases, position about conclusion of the proceedings, be it under Section 58, 92 or 93 remains the same.
We further direct that all proceedings under Section 58 must positively be initiated/concluded within a period of ninety days from the date of
appearance of the parties. Further, Appeal/Revision, if any, be also decided within a period of thirty days from the date of initiation, failing which the
“things†(vehicle/property/ etc.) shall be deemed to have been released in terms of several orders passed by this Court, reference whereof stands
mentioned in Bunilal Sah @ Munilal Sah (supra).
Wherever confiscatory proceedings stand concluded and parties could not file the appeal/revision within the statutory period of limitation, as already
stands directed in several matters, if they were to initiate such proceedings within next thirty days, the plea of limitation would not come in their way of
adjudication of such proceedings on merit.â€
We find that the direction issued by this Court in the aforementioned cases are equally applicable in the facts of the present case. The
F.I.R./prosecution report was lodged/filed on 03.05.2020, the vehicle was seized. Because of the delay in initiation/conclusion of confiscation
proceeding, the vehicle is losing its road worthiness and the depreciation in the re-sale value of the vehicle is an ultimate loss to the State.
Petitioner through learned counsel undertakes to make himself/herself available on 04.02.2021 at 10:30 A.M. before the appropriate authority which
may be in the attending facts, the Collector of the Patna. District. If the Collector is not himself/herself dealing with the matter on account of
delegation of power or assignment of work to another officer of his/her District, he/she shall fix a date directing the parties to appear before the said
officer, which date shall be not exceeding one week. Also, he/she shall inform the said authority of fixing of such date. On appearance of the
petitioner through his/her learned Advocate, the appropriate authority shall consider passing any order/interim order, as the case may be, in terms of
the direction of this Court.
We clarify that convenience of parties, specially during the time of Pandemic Covid-19 is of prime importance and it shall be open for the authority to
hear the parties with the use of technology, i.e. Video Conferencing facility etc.
We only hope and expect that the Authorities under the Act shall take appropriate action at the earliest and in accordance with law, within the time
schedule fixed, failing which the vehicle/property/things liable for confiscation shall be deemed to have been released without any further reference to
this Court.
Liberty reserved to the petitioner to take recourse to such remedies as are otherwise available in accordance with law if the need so arises
subsequently.
Petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid observations/directions.