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PETITIONER: STATE OF BIHAR A ORS.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: MAHANTH BALRAM DAS

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       22/04/1996

BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. G.B. PATTANAIK (J)

CITATION:  1996 SCALE  (4)411

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Leave granted.      We have heard learned counsel for both the parties.      Proceedings were  initiated under  Section  10  of  the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus  Land) Act,  1961 (Bihar  Act XII  of 1962)  (for short, the  ’Act’). The  notification under Section 10(1) of the Act  is required  to be prepared by the Collector on the basis of the information obtained by the Collector regarding the land  held under  Sections 6, 8 and 9 or information had By the  Collector under Section 7. The Collector shall cause a draft  statement to  be prepared  issuing the  particulars enumerated  thereunder.   The  draft   statement  shall   be published in  the official  Gazette of the district and such other place  enumerated  under  rules.  Objections  received therein under  sub-Section (3)  are required  to be disposed of. Under  Section 11,  he has to make the final publication of the  draft statement in the manner prescribed thereunder. Against the  final statement,  an appeal, revision or review etc. has  been provided  in the Act. In 1982, the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment)  Act was  made. Under  Section  32-A,  the pending appeals,  revision, review  or reference  other than those arising  out of  orders passed under Section 8 or sub- section (3) or sub-section (16) pending before any authority shall abate.  Upon amendment,  under the proviso thereunder, the  Collector   shall  proceed  with  the  case  afresh  in accordance with  the provisions  of Section  10.  Similarly, Section 32-B  also envisages  fresh proceedings contemplated by Section  11 of  the Act.  It would thus be clear that, in spite of any matter having become final or matter pending by operation of  Section 32-A  and 32-8,  all  the  proceedings stand abated. Consequently, the Collector has to prepare the draft statement  required under Section 10 afresh and get it published as  per law  inviting objections  from  the  land- holders and  then proceed  under sub-section  (3) of Section

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10. In  view of this admitted legal position, the view taken by the  High Court in C.W.J.C. No.8237/92 dated December 15, 1992 is not correct in law,      The appeal  is accordingly  allowed. The  order of  the High Court  is set  aside. It would be open to the Collector to take  action afresh  in accordance  with Section  10  and proceed with the matter according to law. No costs.